# 1972 PBA Tour season

This is a recap of the 1972 season for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour. It was the tour's 14th season, and consisted of 32 events. With three victories, including a major at the BPAA U.S. Open, Don Johnson repeated as PBA Player of the Year, becoming just the second multiple winner of the award (after Billy Hardwick). With his third victory of the season at the Brunswick World Open, Johnson also joined Dick Weber as the PBA Tour's only 20-time winners to date.
Mike Durbin captured the season's second major at the Firestone Tournament of Champions, while Johnny Guenther was the victor at the PBA National Championship.

## Tournament schedule

| Event | Bowling center | City | Dates | Winner |
| BPAA U.S. Open | Madison Square Garden | New York, New York | Jan 2–8 | Don Johnson (18) |
| Denver Open | Colorado Bowl | Denver, Colorado | Jan 11–15 | Don Johnson (19) |
| Showboat Invitational | Showboat Lanes | Las Vegas, Nevada | Jan 18–22 | Gus Lampo (1) |
| Don Carter Classic | Bowling Square | Arcadia, California | Jan 25–29 | Bill Beach (1) |
| Mercury Cougar Open | Saratoga Lanes | San Jose, California | Feb 1–5 | Gus Lampo (2) |
| King Louie Open | King Louie West | Kansas City, Missouri | Feb 8–12 | Larry Laub (3) |
| Winston-Salem Classic | Major League Lanes | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Feb 15–19 | Butch Gearhart (4) |
| Fair Lanes Open | Fair Lanes | Springfield, Virginia | Feb 22–26 | Bobby Meadows (1) |
| Ebonite Open | Fair Lanes Coliseum | Miami, Florida | Feb 29 – Mar 2 | Nelson Burton, Jr. (8) |
| Buckeye Open | Imperial Lanes | Toledo, Ohio | Mar 7–11 | Curt Schmidt (2) |
| Miller High Life Open | Red Carpet Lanes | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Mar 14–18 | Nelson Burton, Jr. (9) |
| Andy Granatelli's STP Classic | Pelican Lanes | New Orleans, Louisiana | Mar 22–25 | Don Helling (4) |
| Firestone Tournament of Champions | Riviera Lanes | Akron, Ohio | Mar 28 – Apr 1 | Mike Durbin (5) |
| Seattle Open | Ballinger Bowl | Seattle, Washington | Jun 2–5 | Gary Mage (1) |
| Portland Open | Valley Lanes | Portland, Oregon | Jun 8–11 | Earl Anthony (3) |
| Japan Starlanes Open | Mel's Bowl | Redwood City, California | Jun 17–20 | Earl Anthony (4) |
| Fresno Open | Cedar Lanes | Fresno, California | Jun 23–26 | Allie Clarke (2) |
| Tucson Open | Cactus Bowl | Tucson, Arizona | Jul 1–4 | Paul Colwell (1) |
| Winston-Salem Open | Brunswick Wonderbowl | Anaheim, California | Jul 7–10 | Mike McGrath (6) |
| Houston-Sertoma Open | Stadium Bowl | Houston, Texas | Jul 14–17 | Paul Colwell (2) |
| Columbia 300 Open | Cranston Bowl | Cranston, Rhode Island | Aug 4–7 | Barry Asher (5) |
| Bay City Open | Eastland Lanes | Bay City, Michigan | Aug 11–14 | Dick Ritger (10) |
| Waukegan Open | Bertrand Lanes | Waukegan, Illinois | Aug 17–20 | Nelson Burton, Jr. (10) |
| Grand Rapids Open | Westgate Bowl | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Aug 25–28 | Jim Godman (7) |
| South Bend Open | Chippewa Lanes | South Bend, Indiana | Sep 1–4 | Matt Surina (1) |
| Bellows-Valvair Open | Painesville Lanes | Painesville, Ohio | Sep 8–11 | Johnny Petraglia (8) |
| Japan Gold Cup | Starlanes | Tokyo, Japan | Sep 23 – Oct 8 | Barry Asher (6) |
| Bellows-Valvair Open | Hartfield Lanes | Detroit, Michigan | Nov 3–6 | Roy Buckley (2) |
| American Airlines Open | Western Bowl | St. Louis, Missouri | Nov 10–13 | Earl Anthony (5) |
| Brunswick World Open | Brunswick Northern Bowl | Glendale Heights, Illinois | Nov 19–25 | Don Johnson (20) |
| 13th Annual PBA National Championship | Henrietta Lanes | Rochester, New York | Nov 26 – Dec 1 | Johnny Guenther (7) |
| Winston-Salem Invitational | Honolulu Bowl | Honolulu, Hawaii | Dec 5–15 | Mike McGrath (7) |