The 2023 JBT Desert Open

l-r: Alex Kasting, Grant Keller, Susan Meinhardt, Aliyas Sargento, Brock Bivins, Pablo Ypina, Cesar Padilla

subdivision winners Aiden Ruiz-Jimenez & Mackenzie Paige

        Do cacti grow in Alaska?  They might now, as Anchoarge's Aliyas Sargento, along with handicap champ Pablo Ypina of Las Vegas, captured titles in the 2023 JBT Desert Open, hosted by Glenfair Lanes, to kick off the 28th season of JBT competition.

        After twelve qualifying games on three very different patterns, Cesar Padilla pulled away as the scratch division top seed, and chose to bowl on the tough Alcatraz pattern for the sixteen bowler matchplay bracket finals.  He got by Rene Canez and Payton Workman, but Sargento pulled off the semifinal upset to advance to the title game.  On the other side of the bracket, 2021 TPC champ Brock Bivins began his final season with a successful run through as the 10 seed, stopping Grant Keller in the other semifinal to reach the title game.

        The finals was back and forth, as Aliyas' four bagger mid-game looked to lock it up, but back to back opens in the ninth and tenth gave Bivins an opportunity to double for the title.  Brock is usually clutch but could not get the first hit this time, and a relieved Sargento claimed his first career JBT title with the victory.

        Pablo Ypina traded the lead with Xaden Todacheenie throughout qualifying, but an early matchplay loss by Xaden and #2 seed Evelynn Bollea cleared the path for Pablo, as he survived tough matches with Kamryn Wyman, Hannah Hughes, and Alex Kasting to reach the final.  #6 Susan Meinhardt and #10 took advantage of the blown up bottom half of th bracket, advancing to a semifinal which London won to reach the title game.

        Both first-time finalists competed very well in the pressure packed match, but it was Ypina who came out on top for the win and JBT title number one.  Both he and Aliyas win the much coveted cactus trophy, $700 first place scholarships, plus 5 free brackets and 25 free raffle tickets at every JBT event this season, so this win could literally add up to thousands when it's all in the books.

        Top seeds went 2-0 in the subdivisions, as Aiden Ruiz Jimenez beat newcomer Brendon Etse (whose earlier 289 was the high game of the tournament) for the U17 win, while Mackenzie Paige got past Texan Kloey Kielich for the girls scratch win.  Braydon Terry and CJ Todeschi won balls of their choice from the brands of Brunswick, continuing their title sponsorship for season 28.  Huge thanks to the team at Glenfair for their usual great hosting job and everyone for coming and setting Desert Open record turnout, as well as scholarship payout of nearly $6,000!   Want in on all the fun for all ages and skill levels?  Just check out our upcoming schedule and come on down!

Practice:  Friday August 11: the 3-5 pm part of practice will feature coaching from Virtue staff!  Register at www.virtuebowling.com/event/jbt-compd

Tournament:  Saturday & Sunday August 12-13, 2023

at

Glenfair Lanes 6110 N. 59^th Ave, Glendale AZ, (623) 937-9225

All bowlers roll 12 games on 3 different lane patterns!

Top 16 advance to single elimination matchplay!**

Per block and overall prizes- bonuses for the champs can translate into THOUSANDS!

***This event IS part of the 2023-24 JBT season

and DOES count for DOUBLE Arizona and All-Conference JBT points!***

FORMAT:  (TWO divisions, scratch and handicap)

Friday August 11:

• 3 PM-9 PM:         Practice on all 3 patterns
  • $20, all you can bowl from 3-9 on the patterns, plus tips & tricks from Virtue staff!
  • the 3-5 pm part of practice will feature coaching from Virtue staff!  Register at www.virtuebowling.com/event/jbt-compd

Saturday August 12:

• 10 AM:                 4 games, pattern 1
• 2 PM:                   4 games, pattern 2  

Sunday August 13:

• 9 AM:                   4 games, pattern 3

the top 16 twelve-game totals advance to matchplay**

• 1 PM:                   round of 16, best 3-of-5 matchplay,   highest scratch seed chooses pattern!
• 3:30 PM:              round of 8, best 2-of-3 matchplay    (starting times approx. following round completion)
• 5 PM:                    rounds of 4 & 2, single game matches

**23+ entries cuts to 16; 16-22 entries cuts to 12; less than 16 entries cuts to 8

ENTRY FEE:  $100 .      

PRIZE FUNDS: (based 48 entries- 1:6 earn awards)                             $600 first place guaranteed (plus below)!

Every 5-game block:                                        final standings:                                   CHAMP ALSO RECEIVES:

1^st-      $50                                                        1^st-          $600                                       - exemption in day 2 of 2024 TPC

                                                                        2^nd-         $300                                       - the famous glass cactus trophy!

                                                                        3^rd-4^th-    $150                                       - 5 brackets AND 25 raffle tix

- High overall scratch female (if no other prize won): $100          5^th-8th    $100                                       at EVERY 23-24 JBT event!

RESERVED BOWLERS:

This event is nearing sellout.  Please review your reservation below and contact us for any changes.

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. 

the 3-5 pm part of Friday practice will feature coaching from Virtue staff!  Register at www.virtuebowling.com/event/jbt-compd

Date: Saturday and Sunday August 12-13, 2023  (This is ONE tournament that is two days long, open to anyone age 21 & under as of 8/1/23.)

Start Time: Saturday qualifying squads at 10 AM and 2 PM, Sunday qualifying at 9 AM; all bowlers bowl all three qualifying squads.

This event is nearing sellout.  Please review your reservation below and contact us for any changes.

Re-entries?:  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 12 games.  The top 16 in each division advance to matchplay* (*see above).   

Divisions/ Averages:  Scratch or handicap.  It is the bowlers' choice of division.  Also, everyone age 16 or under as of 8/1/23 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 don't have 15 games yet this season, we need your highest finishing average from any for of competition in the 2022-23 season, AND any finishing summer league averages.  If you bowl in multiple leagues / clubs, bring everything and we'll sort it out for you.  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 DOUBLE Arizona 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 Arizona points, plus anyone who had TWO top-5 finishes in an Arizona event this season, advance to their respective Invitationals.

Entry fee: $100.  Scholarship brackets are available for $2 each.  Raffle tickets for Brands of Brunswick bowling balls, and our PowerBowl and '28' 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.   These incentives are pending official renewal for the 23-24 season.

Scholarships: 1:6 in each division earn scholarships, scratch and handicap.  Minimum prizes are $600, $300, $150, $150.  Bowlers must finish in the top 4 twice in that conference 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 $2,800 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.