The United States Bowling Congress Youth Open Championships will have separate singles and doubles divisions for girls in 2014, and the Youth Open West Region tournament also will return in 2014.

Nearly 1,400 bowlers took part in the 2013 Youth Open Championships held in Detroit last summer. The tournament had a scholarship pool of more than $80,000 and champions were crowned in U8, U12, U15 and U20 divisions.

The 2014 Youth Open, which will be held in the Buffalo, N.Y., area in July, will have girls divisions in singles and doubles. Doubles teams of two girls automatically will be placed in the girls division and mixed doubles teams will be placed in the boys division.

In past years, divisions were determined by average; last year, the tournament moved to age-based divisions and giving the girls competitors a separate division is necessary.

"This will give the girls the chance to compete against their peers for their own titles," said Chad Murphy, International Bowling Campus Managing Director of Youth Development. "While there is a doubles competition just for girls, they will have an option if they want to have a male partner for the event."

An all-time high series and three perfect games highlighted the competition at the 2013 USBC Youth Open Championships, but the tournament also experienced a disruption. Severe weather caused a power outage at Sterling Lanes, forcing the cancellation of several squads.

"We attempted the reschedule teams but, because of travel considerations, some bowlers were not able to take part in the tournament and we apologize for that," Murphy said. "It was an unfortunate circumstance."

The Youth Open Championships West Region made its debut this past summer and will return in 2014. The West Region event was created so USBC Youth bowlers out west could have a major tournament option closer to home.

Cal Bowl in Lakewood, Calif., located near Disneyland and other tourist destinations in southern California, will host the tournament June 21-22.

The 2014 USBC Youth Open Championships will take place July 10-27 at AMF Thruway Lanes in Cheektowaga, N.Y. Online registration for both tournaments will be available soon.