The Big Stepladder

Tournament Rules

1.                   This is a sanctioned tournament governed by STEPLADDER, USBC Rules and Regulations.

2.                   This tournament will be open to bowlers who are current members of USBC, STEPLADDER.  All Membership cards must be presented at registration.

3.                   Handicap shall be based on 80% of 210 men and 90% of 210 for women. Entrants will use their highest USBC sanctioned league averaged based on a minimum of 21 games or more for the 2006-2007 season. If no average last year, you may use your highest average of the 2007/2008 season 21 games or more as of July 20, 2008 (Verified). All others will bowl scratch. The ten-pin rule is not in effect. The max entering handicap shall be 54 pins per game for women; for the men, 48 pins per game.

4.                   It shall be each bowler’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of his or her average. Failure to use proper average or make corrections up to the completion of the first game shall disqualify score if the submitted average is higher than the actual. Prize-winnings will be based on the higher submitted average.  See Rule 319A

5.                   All bowlers are subject to re-rating in accordance with USBC rule 319. The tournament official reserves the right to re-rate any bowler whose entering average does not reflect the bowlers true capability.  See Rule 319E

6.                   Any participant who has won $600.00 or more in any event or tournament during the previous 12 months must report actual scores, position, and amount won to Tournament Office prior to bowling.

7.                   The tournament directors reserve the right to accept or reject any or all entries and decide on all questions and/or disputes. The decisions of the tournament directors shall be final.

8.                   The tournament directors may add additional squads Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday.

9.                   Bowlers holding PBA cards with “exempt” status are ineligible for this tournament.  Non-exempt PBA cardholders are allowed to participate in this tournament.

10.               All qualifying squads bowlers shall bowl three games moving across six lanes. Bowlers are eligible to bowl more than one squad to qualify.

11.               Senior, Female, and Youth qualifying scores above the cut shall be placed in the general pool first; subsequently the senior, female, and youth automatic qualifier spot will then be determined.

12.               Cash Only, No Checks, and No Tabs.

13.               Non-compliance with any one or more of the aforementioned rules, non-disclosure or misrepresentation to tournament officials constitutes complete and final disqualification for any and all parties for non-complying and non-disclosing.

14.               Any challenge made by a participant against the tournament and/or officials that results in any kind of legal action, that participant hereby agrees to pay all reasonable attorney fees incurred should the tournament/official prevail in defense of said challenge.

15.               A $5.00 membership due before a bowler enters his/her first tournament. Visit thetournamentsource.com or consult a Stepladder staff member for more details.

16.               Entry fee shall be $50.00 for Singles event.  ($32.00 prize fund,$8.00 lineage fee, $10.00 expenses).  Prize fund shall be returned 100% to bowlers.

17.               Percentage to be paid off- $2000.00 1^st place, 2^nd place 16.07%, 3^rd place 8.04%, 4^th place 4.02%, 5^th place 2.01%, 6^th place 1.61%, 7-10 place 4.82%, 11-40^th place 31.33%.  Percentage will be paid out based on entries if not 135 entries.

18.               Doubles and scratch divisions will be paid one out of every ten entries.

19.               Scratch Singles will be StepLadder format (Baby StepLadder), taking top 3 after last squad on Sunday; 2 vs. 3; the winner vs. 1;  The Baby StepLadder will commence after the last squad on Sunday.  Baby StepLadder will be paid out based on entries.

20.               The lucky draw mystery score jackpot will carry over if no one wins.

21.               This tournament is open to youth bowlers providing he/she signs a waiver before they bowl (New Rule 400).  All prize money awarded to USBC SMART Scholarship participants will be placed directly into a USBC SMART Scholarship Account.

Roll-Off and Stepladder Format

1.                   The top 40 handicap scores including automatic qualifiers shall bowl three games across six lanes starting Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

2.                   The top ten handicap scores move on to the next round, the TV Finals.

3.                   The TV Finals shall commence as follows:  The top 4 seeds Lock-in.  Seeds 5, 7, & 9 will bowl a one game match, seeds 6, 8, & 10 will bowl a one game match; the two winners will then bowl a one game match.  The winner vs. 4^th seed, the winner vs. 3^rd seed, the winner vs. 2^nd seed, and the winner vs. 1^st seed will become champion.

4.                   Any ties for the 40^th place and TV Finals position will have a 9^th and 10^th frame roll-off. All other ties for any optional events prize money will be combined and divided equally.

5.                   Those making the TV Finals will receive the following: handicap reduction for the next tournament

-1^st place: 5 pins per game, 2^nd place: 4 pins per game, 3^rd place: 3 pins per game, 4^th place: 2 pins per game and 5^th place: 1 pin per game

6.         Any bowler who does not quality for the top 30 for two consecutive tournaments will receive a handicap increase of one pin per game for the next tournament he or she enters. 

 The Tournament Source

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