Nation’s best women bowlers coming to Sonoma County

Some of the best women bowlers from the Golden State will have the chance to show their skills against bowlers from around the nation at the upcoming Nationwide Professional Women’s Bowling Association Sonoma County Open.

The event is the second of the 2016 PWBA Tour season and will run today through Sunday at Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park, with almost 80 players representing nine countries, battling for a $10,000 top prize.

Among the expected competitors with California ties are two-time defending United States Bowling Congress Senior Queens winner and USBC Hall of Famer Robin Romeo from Newhall, 2011 USBC Queens champion Missy Parkin from Laguna Hills, former Team USA member Emily Fagan from Berkeley and a pair of USBC Hall of Famers who now live elsewhere, but earned many accolades as California residents, Leanne Hulsenberg and Lynda Barnes.

All competitors at the Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open will bowl two six-game blocks Saturday, with the field being cut to the top 32 based on the 12-game pinfall totals. Advancing players bowl six additional games Sunday morning, before the field is cut to the top 12 for match play.

At the conclusion of round-robin match play and the unique dual-stepladder PWBA format, two top qualifiers automatically earn spots in the televised finals, where they will be joined by two additional bowlers from the dual-stepladder.

The finals of the Sonoma County Open will be taped during USBC Queens on May 26 and will air on CBS Sports Network on June 14.

The PWBA made its return in 2015 after a 12-year hiatus, and the schedule has grown this year from 11 events to 14.