New national television package features Junior Gold

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Junior Gold Championships presented by Storm, Roto Grip and Master, is the pinnacle event for top youth bowlers and this summer the title matches of the annual tournament will be nationally televised on a major cable sports network. An agreement is in place to televise the boys and girls championships matches of the Under 12, Under 15 and Under 20 divisions.

"The Junior Gold program is exploding in both participation and interest and national television will elevate our future stars of the sport into an even brighter spotlight," USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy said. "A future for the sport starts with youth programs such as Junior Gold and kids at the event will have the experience of a lifetime being part of a major television broadcast."

The television package was made possible in part thanks to funding from the sale of adult spectator passes. The Junior Gold Championships started selling the one-day or all-week passes at the 2014 tournament.

"All the funds from the spectator pass are going right back into the enhancement of the event," Murphy said. "We really appreciate the fantastic support from all of our Junior Gold parents and families for helping grow this event into something so special for the kids."

The 2015 Junior Gold Championships will be held in the Chicago area from July 13-17. All title matches will take place at Stardust Bowl in Addison, Illinois, on July 17. Details on the broadcast agreement will be released soon.

The Junior Gold Championships annually awards scholarships and crowns a boys and girls champion in the three age divisions. Top qualifiers and champions also can earn spots on Junior Team USA. A record field of nearly 2,500 youth bowlers took part in the 2014 Junior Gold Championships.

Junior Gold competitors start the journey to the national tournament by qualifying through local tournaments. At the national championships, competitors must go through three days of qualifying and then match play to determine a champion.

The Junior Gold Championships week also includes exhibits, seminars and the Collegiate Experience, where bowlers have the opportunity to learn about bowling programs from colleges throughout the country.

Go to BOWL.com/JuniorGold to learn more about the Junior Gold program.