Illinois State BPA

06/12/2026

Put the screens down 📱 and go bowling 🎳 this weekend! 🎉 Keith Hamilton Kathy Hamilton

05/29/2026

Pete Weber says the best part of bowling 🎳 is the friendships 🤝 he has made over the years. What do you like most about bowling? Comment below! 👇 Keith Hamilton Kathy Hamilton

05/22/2026

Bowling is timeless. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a newbie hitting the lanes for the first time – bowling is accessible to all ages. 🎉 It is indeed never too late to fall in love with bowling! ❤️ Keith Hamilton Kathy Hamilton

05/18/2026

Congratulations on turning 85. Also, as the longest-standing member of the Illinois State BPA, we greatly appreciate your support throughout the decades.

05/15/2026

🎉 We thank STORM for all they do to promote the sport of bowling! 🎳 They understand that bowling is about people and community. Bowling centers truly are the heart and soul of communities, and it is the great people involved in this tremendous sport that make that possible! 💖🙌 Keith Hamilton Kathy Hamilton

05/08/2026

🎳 One of the most successful events in the bowling world is the Beat the Champs event! 🏆 Do you have what it takes to Beat the Champs? Now is the time to join leagues and polish your skills because the next Beat the Champs event will be here sooner than later! 🌟💪 Keith Hamilton Kathy Hamilton Beatthechamps

The 63rd Annual Beat the Champs Contest Finals concluded on Sunday, March 15, with an exciting showdown between 64 adult bowlers and 64 youth competitors.

05/03/2026

Hometown Lanes Carl Franks takes home the $10,000 First-Place Prize by winning the 46th Annual Pins-Over-Average Tournament

The 2026 Annual Coors Light / ISBPA Pins-Over-Average Tournament Finals, held May 2, 2026, at Classic Bowl in Morton Grove, Illinois, featured a dominant performance by Carl Franks of Hometown Lanes. Franks defeated Diversey River Bowl’s Bryant Roby, posting a total Pins-Above-Average (POA) score of 192 compared to Roby’s 144.

Entering the tournament with a reported average of 153, Franks surged to a remarkable 651 series to capture the $10,000 first-place prize. When asked about his standout performance, Franks humbly shrugged and said, “I was just striking. I threw only one gutter ball today but just threw the ball well.” Runner-up Bryant Roby earned $5,000 for his efforts.

This year marked the 46th edition of the tournament, which continues to experience impressive growth and participation. Following a 4% increase in 2025, this year’s event expanded by 9.7%, drawing a total of 9,296 entries.

Illinois State BPA Tournament Director Tom Sims commented on the tournament’s success and growth, stating, “We really need to thank the bowlers for their ongoing patronage of the tournament—an event where anyone can win based on the POA format. We also need to acknowledge the 44 member centers who ran the tournament and committed to signing 100% of their league base rather than selling entries individually.”

Also in attendance was Katherine Dahlin, newly appointed Senior Chain Sales Executive for Molson Coors and brand sponsor Coors Light, who enjoyed her first ISBPA event. She shared, “I had a blast and loved engaging with the bowlers. You could just feel the excitement of the competitors, and I can see why Coors Light has continued to sponsor the tournament throughout the years.”

The ISBPA extends its gratitude to all participating bowlers, the member centers who hosted the tournament, and Coors Light for its ongoing support of this event and other association programs.

To see the full prize list, click on image below.

04/20/2026

There are many challenges facing Illinois business owners. The small business owners who make up the bowling industry in Illinois just want the weight of government regulations and the state's high tax burden lightened. We can be an economic powerhouse if government would step aside and let the hard working people of Illinois have the freedom to be successful. Illinois is a good state for bowling and with the right policies - it could be a great state! Kathy Hamilton Keith Hamilton

04/11/2026

Bowling is for life 🎳. Just ask the future stars of the sport who understand the importance of having a “next frame” mentality 🌟. We love our youth bowlers ❤️ and the excitement and passion they bring to our sport! 🎉Beatthechamps Kathy Hamilton Keith Hamilton

02/02/2026

A PAIR OF TRIOS SHARE 2026 MILLER LITE BAKERS BLAST TITLE
Notable, Unique Accomplishment for each Co-Champion

The 2026 Miller Lite Baker Blast Target Score Tournament Finals concluded on Sunday with a pair of trios sharing the title. Thirty-seven teams qualified to compete in the finals of this fun, unique tournament which were held at Stardust Bowl in Addison, Illinois. While both teams were proud to share the title,

#1 – The Girlfriends (Photo L-R): Fran McManus, Rexalyn Darr and Liz Cech from Lawn Lanes set a tournament record by winning the tournament with the lowest target score in event history (138).

#2 – The Topol's: (Photo L-R): Ed, Justin, and Colin Topol became the first all-family team to win the tournament. The Topol's were one of 10 teams from Stardust Bowl to compete in the finals.

The Illinois State Bowling Proprietors’ Association congratulates our 2026 Co-Champions and thanks our sponsor Miller Lite (Molson Coors), for the ongoing support of the association and its tournaments.