The Professional Bowlers Association tour returns to Delaware in July after a three-year absence due to COVID-19.
Mid County Lanes in Middletown hosts the Rita Justice Classic presented by Anchor Buick/GMC. It includes PBA over-50 competition July 13-15, followed by the regular PBA tour July 15-17.
Ryan Ciminelli prevailed in the Gene Carter’s Pro Shop Classic in July 2019, the last time the PBA made a stop at Mid County. The PBA had begun with a regional event there in 2009 that became a national tour competition in 2016.
This year the tournament is named after Delaware Sports Hall-of-Famer Rita Justice, who won two titles in 1972 and ’73 as a member of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour.
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“It’s kind of like starting over,” said Rita’s daughter, Kim Justice Bowers, who is also the Mid County general manager, “but we love hosting the PBA at the lanes.”
Admission to the Rita Justice Classic is free.
The PBA50 field will have a practice session on July 13 starting at 3 p.m., qualifying July 14 at 9 a.m. and the match-play elimination finals July 15 at 8 a.m.
The regular PBA portion of the Classic commences with practice at 3 p.m. and a pro-am at 7 p.m. on July 15. Split-squad qualifying is at 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on July 16 with the top 16 advancing to the July 17 match-play eliminations at 9 a.m.
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