Bowling
Fifth Brunswick Euro Challenge Attracts Largest Number of Participants and Spectators
Peter Ljung top winner of 2008 Brunswick Euro Challenge (BEC); Fifth BEC registers record number of 405 bowlers and 949 played entries; Great turnout at seminars held during the course of the tournament
MUSKEGON, Mich., March 20, 2008 – The fifth annual 2008 Brunswick Euro Challenge (BEC), the largest bowling tournament in Europe, was once again a very successful event. It proved to be equally exciting for the spectators and the 405 bowlers who participated in the tournament. Swedish bowler Peter Ljung took home the 16,000€ top prize while the total tournament prize fund was set at 90,000€ (approximately U.S. $130,000).
The event was held March 7-16, 2008 at Plaza Bowling in Saint Maximin, France, a 28-lane fully Brunswick-equipped facility located 40 kilometers north of Paris, and was organized by Brunswick distributor Valcke Bowling.
Excellent and consistent lane conditions, provided by the Brunswick Authority22® lane maintenance system, allowed for a very competitive and exciting tournament. The excitement carried all the way through the final stepladder matches, which saw Swedish national team member Peter Ljung come in as the fourth seed and impressively fight his way to the top. The left-handed Ljung had his work cut out for him in the finals as he had to defeat three great bowlers in his stepladder matches. With great poise and concentration he outplayed Osku Palermaa of Finland and US bowlers Ronnie Russell and Mike Fagan who took the fourth, third and second overall positions respectively. In the title match Ljung defeated No. 1 seed and PBA champion Mike Fagan 220-187, to win the fifth stop of the 2008 European Bowling Tour and the 16,000 Euro top prize.
Missy Bellinder, of the United States, was the best of 94 women in 10th place overall to receive 1.280€ plus a 1.300€ bonus for the top woman.
Additionally, Brunswick Bowling and Valcke Bowling Service experienced a large turn out of proprietors who attended the various seminars taking place throughout the week. A two-day “open” seminar attracted proprietors who were considering modernizing their centers with the latest and greatest high-tech bowling center equipment.
Proprietors from Spain, including officials from the Spanish and Portuguese Bowling Federations, representing more than 30 centers and 500 lanes, attended new investor and modernization seminars to learn about the best in equipment and service in the industry, and to watch the best bowlers in the world. Also, more than 20 bowling center proprietors from Russia, representing approximately 30 bowling centers and 600 lanes, attended the event and the special sessions.
Additionally, “XPLORE BOWLING,” a by-invitation-only event, also proved to be a tremendous success for Valcke Bowling Service, where more than 70 proprietors attended. The company invited potential new bowling center business owners to learn about the popularity and excitement of the sport of bowling. The event enabled the proprietors to be well prepared and well informed before they begin their projects. The day-long event allowed the proprietors to also see the best bowling players in the world in action, taste the competitive atmosphere of the biggest bowling tournament in Europe and talk with bowling sports federation representatives.
Every year, the BEC catches the attention of more and more nationalities, increasing the number of participants. This year every continent was represented at the tournament with bowlers coming from a total of 36 countries from all over the world.
For complete information on the tournament, including the results, please visit www.brunswickeurochallenge.com.
About Brunswick Bowling & Billiards
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation has been a leader in the recreation business for more than 160 years. Founded in 1845 to make billiards tables, Brunswick Corporation is a Fortune 500 company and the leader in bringing Genuine Ingenuity™ to everything it makes. Brunswick Bowling & Billiards, one of the largest operators of full-service bowling and family recreation centers in North America, is a full-line supplier of bowling equipment, supplies and consumer products, and designs billiards tables and accessories. For more information, visit our Web site at www.brunswickbowling.com.
Contact: Kristin Filz
Manager, Marketing Services
Phone: 231-725-4652
Email: Kristin.filz@brunbowl.com
