Bowlero, the biggest name in bowling – as owner/operator of over 300 locations of Bowlero, Bowlmor Lanes, AMF and Brunswick Zone – has launched the exciting pro-am tournament Bowlero Elite Series. It’ll be 8 professional bowlers facing off against 8 amateur players, for a chance to win a first-place prize of $100,000. During the first Bowlero Elite series tournament, an amateur player actually beat out all of the pros so you never know who will win. And with a military vet, 5 women and Latino and international presence, this is their most diverse roster of players yet.

The Bowlero Elite Series is coming to the Greater NYC Area, continuing with a second tournament to be held at Bowlero North Brunswick in New Jersey.  Set to air on Wednesday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m. ET on NBCSN, this tense, fast-paced competition includes a single elimination bracket featuring eight of the world’s most high-profile pros and eight of the best Bowlero Corp league bowlers from across the nation. The tournament will feature a prize fund of over $250,000 with the first and second place prizes of more than $100,000 and $65,000, respectively, on the line.

Collectively, the eight pros boast an impressive 75 PBA Titles and 7 PWBA Titles, and feature active members of both Team USA and Mexico. But that won’t intimidate the amateurs, whose bowling averages are on par with the pros and consist of four members who have bowled a perfect game, and even the 35^th person ever to bowl a perfect 900 series.

The eight professional bowlers include:

• Norm Duke, PBA Hall of Famer and five-time ESPY Award Winner
• EJ Tackett, 2016 PBA Player of the Year
• Anthony Simonsen, two-time PBA Major Tour champion
• Jesper Svensson, seven-time PBA Tour champion
• Bill O’Neill, 10-time PBA tour champion and seven-time Team USA member
• Stefanie Johnson, three-time PWBA champion and fifteen-time Team USA member
• Diana Zavjalova, four-time PWBA champion and two-time USBC Queens Champion
• Sandra Gongora, three-time Mexican national champion and 17-time Team Mexico member

The eight amateur bowlers include:

• Amy Brehm – A middle school teacher from Hamilton, NJ – Brehm has been bowling since she was 16 years old, and when she’s not teaching or playing on her league you can catch her coaching local high school girls interested in the sport. Amy hopes to inspire her students as she takes to the lanes.
• Jeremy Milito – A midtown financial analyst from Patchogue, Long Island – Milito is hoping to live out his dream at pro bowling by playing against the pros, including Norm Duke, who was his childhood idol.
• Torry Henderson – A father and coach from Milwaukee, WI – A coach to local youth, Henderson’s motivation to win is his community and helping empower other youth who don’t have the resources to enjoy the sport.
• Corey Kistener – Former Servicemember from Decatur, IL – Deployed after 9/11, Kistener is a former marine who upon return turned to bowling to fund a memorial to honor his fellow servicemen. Corey’s commitment to his community extends further as he’s also deeply passionate about empowering local youth, which led him to begin an annual scholarship program to help local youth bowlers have an opportunity to succeed within the sport. If victorious, Corey hopes to use part of his winnings to help fund more youth scholarship opportunities.
• Haley Kvarnberg – University student from West Palm Beach, FL – Currently a senior at the University of Florida, at just age 18, Kvarnberg is one of the youngest Bowlero Elite Series competitors ever! Haley hopes that her participation in the tournament will help inspire other youth bowlers discover their passion for the sport.
• Rafael Pizarro – Resident from San Juan, Puerto Rico – Proud to represent Puerto Rico, Pizarro has represented his community at both collegiate and international levels and is excited to bring the ‘isle of enchantment’ to the Bowlero Elite Series.
• Joshua Tijari – A Telephone lineman from San Jose, CA – Originally from Hawaii, Tijari works as a telephone lineman by day and operates his own bowling pro shop by night. Bowling has been his passion since age 12 when he began making bowling videos before ultimately participating in international tournaments such as the Japan Cup.
• Lucas Leandro – a bowling pro shop attendant from Sayreville, NJ – Leandro is the new face of the sport and one of the youngest players participating in the tournament. Lucas began bowling at age 15, and then bowled his first perfect 300 game at age 16, before going on to win his high school state championship. His passion for the sport led him to work at Bowlero as an attendant, which makes this a complete dream come true of going from bowling employee to the national pro level.
  

  Luis Gonzalez

The first tournament in April saw 32-year-old left-handed amateur bowler, Luis Gonzales, defeat professional bowler, Kyle Troup, for the top prize of $270,000 – one of the largest prizes in bowling history – to become the inaugural Bowlero Elite Series champion. Both Gonzales and Troup will return for the final event along with the winners of the tournament in North Brunswick.

The third and final tournament will take place on Saturday, December 28^th at Bowlero Jupiter, FL., at 3:00p.m. ET on NBC. Joining the champions will be a mixture of pros from the past two events and six NEW amateurs. All active fall league bowlers are encouraged to apply by visiting bowlero.com/elite-series/sign-up, starting now through 10/16.
First and second place prizes of $150,000 and $62,000 are on the line.

Coverage will also be available for streaming on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.