AMF FIREBIRD LANES

champs and finalists!

        Lots of bowlers found success on a challenging pattern at Salem's AMF Firebird, but it was Eddie Strange, and the Sicard family, that stole the handicap and scratch shows, in terrific JBT Pacific Northwest Conference action.

        After five qualifying games, qualifiers moved on to a head to head matchplay bracket.  In handicap, Strange led the field by a whopping 211 pins, and matchplay can be a cruel format in such a circumstance.  However, Eddie got past two close matches to reach the final against Jade Walters.  Jade, who had made the finals by beating her brother Kaden in the semifinals, gave Eddie all he could handle in a low scoring finals.  In the end though, as he has done in his other wins, Strange saved the best for last, striking in the tenth to seal a 186-179 win and his third career JBT title.

        Fourteen scratch bowlers survived a low -118 cut, and they were carved down to four.  In one semifinal, Mary Sicard earned a trip to her first scratch title match with a win over Adam Jodoin, who continues a great season.  Would we finally get a Bud-Mary final, or would Liam Hardman stop Bud's run?  Sicard quickly answered that by starting with the front 9 on the extremely tough pattern.  With one finger cut up from a first game accident, Bud was able to finish off the perfect game, his fourth of the season, which gives him half of the 300 games bowled on the WHOLE TOUR this season- wow! 

        All that was preamble to the always fascinating dynamics of a sibling title match, of which we've had quite a few over the years.  In this edition, Bud slowed down a little, while Mary came out firing, and she stayed ahead all game for the win and her first career title.  Some say two-handed female talent is coming down the road, but with Mary (and Main Event champ Vanessa and many others), we say it's here!

        Piper Chalmers gave Mary her only bad news of the day, beating her for the Girls Scratch title, her fifth of the season.  U17 went to Bud by beating Henry Hind, who were also 1-2 in qualifying overall.  Kasey Pine won a ball from the Brands of Brunswick featuring Ebonite, our title sponsor.  Huge thanks to Erik and the team for their usual great job hosting our Tour.  Want in on all this fun?  Just check out our schedule and come on down!

Date: Sunday February 5, 2023  (This is ONE tournament that is one day long, open to anyone age 21 & under as of 8/1/22). 

Start Time: Bowling begins at 9:30 AM.

Re-entries?:  There's only one qualifying squad, so there are no re-entries this event..

Reservations:  Please email director@bowljbt.com to reserve a spot.  You can prepay (not required) at the 'Prepaying' section of this website.  Reservations (paid or unpaid) must check in no later than 15 minutes before start time.  At that time, all bowlers will be taken on a first come, first serve basis until the field is full.

Format: Qualifying round is 5 games.  The top 40% advance to head to head matchplay.

Divisions/ Averages:  Scratch or handicap.  It is the bowlers' choice of division.  Also, everyone age 16 or under as of 8/1/22 is automatically entered in the U-17 side event.   Also, every female is automatically entered in the Girls Scratch side event.   If this is your first JBT event this season, we will be asking for average info.  In most cases, your highest average from any current form of organized competition of at least 15 games is what we need.  If you bowl in multiple leagues / clubs, bring everything and we'll sort it out for you.  If you don't have 15+ games in any organized competition this season, we need your finishing 21-22 average, and any 2022 summer averages.  After your first JBT event, your average is re-rated before every JBT event according to JBT rules.  Please see JBT Rule 13 for complete details.

Points:  This event counts for Pac NW and All-Conference points.  Points qualify you for the big money season-ending Invitationals and Touring Players Championship, so get all you can.  Visit the 'statistics' section of the website to check on your points.  As the end of the season, the top 32 in Pac NW points, plus anyone who had a top-4 finish in a Pac NW event this season, advance to their respective Invitationals.

Entry fee: $60.  Scholarship brackets are available for $2 each.  Raffle tickets for Ebonite bowling balls, and our PowerBowl and '27' jackpots, are available on-site. 

Sponsor Incentive bonuses:  1) IAM Bowling: Bowlers making the final match of an event (scratch or handicap) wearing an IAM patch (good), any IAM shirt (better), or an IAM JBT shirt (best) earn point bonuses towards a $5,000 IAM incentive jackpot.  (The IAM patch is requested to be worn by all bowlers).   2) Virtue Bowling: Bowlers making the final match of an event (scratch or handicap, win or lose), using a Virtue Bowling shirt or patch, and a Virtue drilled ball, earn a $25 Virtue gift card.  

Covid details: JBT events follow- at least- all local Covid safety protocols, which you must be prepared for.   Please stay posted so you're not surprised about anything required of you. 

Scholarships: 1:6 in each division earn scholarships, scratch and handicap.  Minimum prizes are $300, $150, $100, $60.  Bowlers must finish in the top 4 once this season to qualify for that conference's Invitational, which features $1,000 for first place.  Bowlers who finish in the top 20 in a conference's points race, or the top 100 in all-conference points, qualify for the Touring Players Championship, featuring $2,500 for first.

Lane conditions: conditions vary from event to event, and are not posted prior to the event (unless otherwise announced).  Some events do not post the pattern until after qualifying.  Be ready for anything- it makes you a better bowler!  Check out previous patterns and corresponding cut scores at the 'lane conditions' section of this website.

Dress code:  Anything goes EXCEPT tank tops, gym shorts, clothing promoting alcohol, drugs, or firearms, or excessively ripped or short clothing, subject solely to the director's discretion.  However, bowlers wearing slacks or dress shorts/skirts, and a 'name shirt' or PBA-style 'dye-sub' shirt, or college or high school team shirt, earn an extra 10 points on their season-long points total.  If you're not sure about dress code, check with us.  If you're new to us, the vast majority of the bowlers do dress in the 'bonus' dress code, and those points become very important, so plan accordingly.

RESERVED BOWLERS:

This reservation is an expectation that you will be bowling.  PLEASE do not forget to contact us if you need to cancel or adjust your reservation.  Repeated 'no-shows' may result in you not being able to reserve a spot.  This list may not be updated after the Friday of the event as we travel, etc.  However, walk-ins / late entries are still gladly accepted as space permits.  There is generally plenty of room for walk-ins / late entries, and we'll  post here clearly if an event is nearing sellout or sold out.