Bowlers from Knights of Columbus councils throughout the Diocese of Peoria are invited to join hundreds of enthusiasts from around the Midwest and Canada when Peoria hosts the Knights of Columbus International Bowling Association’s 90th annual Central Division Bowling Tournament over three weekends beginning March 28-29.

“We’ve had a wonderful response from the Peoria area. There will be possibly 13 teams from the Peoria area alone,” said John Kunkle, a Brimfield resident and member of the host council, Knights of Columbus Spalding 427 in Peoria.

When the tournament opens at Landmark Recreation Center in Peoria, Kunkle — a director of the Knights’ International Bowling Association — will take part in his 49th consecutive competition.

He’d welcome a lot of company.

The tournament features handicap/scratch competition in singles, doubles, and four-member teams. Both men and women may take part, but on the teams at least two members must be a member of the Knights of Columbus or ladies’ auxiliary. Each member may invite one guest to participate.

The deadline to register for the tournament is Feb. 28. Cost is $92 per team, $46 per doubles entry and $23 per singles entry. Registration forms, rules, prize listings, and further information is available online at intlkofcbowling.org.

Peoria last hosted the central division tournament in 2009, when 139 teams took part. The central division embraces councils from Canada to Texas and from Iowa to Ohio.

The opening ceremonies for this year’s event will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at Landmark Recreation Center, 3225 N. Dries Lane. Among the dignitaries expected to be present are Jim Ardis, mayor of Peoria; Skip Kenyon, state deputy of the Knights of Columbus; Bill Schultz, president of the Knights’ International Bowling Association; a Fourth Degree Honor Guard and a representative of the Diocese of Peoria.

After the opening weekend, the competition will break for Holy Week and Easter and return on the weekends of April 11-12 and April 18-19.

Kunkle said this year’s tournament is being dedicated to two members of Spalding Council No. 427 for their dedication to the Knights and their bowling efforts — Joe Waugh Sr., a participant and sponsor for 50 years, and Eugene Peters, a past president of the International Bowling Association.

The Quality Inn and Suites. 4112 N. Brandywine Drive, is serving as host hotel. For reservations, call (309) 685-2556 and mention the Knights of Columbus International Bowling Association. The Spalding Council will host a hospitality room on the tournament’s opening weekend.