SO CAL INVITATIONAL

champs and finalists

         Gage Baker and Russell Ly earned $1,000 top scholarship prizes as champions of the 2025 JBT So Cal Invitational Tournament, hosted by Winnetka Bowl.

          Aaron Calica slid in as the 11 seed for the 16-bowl scratch triple elimination matchplay finals, then caught fire, starting 4-0 before Avery Domaguin gave him his first loss.  By round eight only four bowlers remained, and in that round, Baker, the top seed, eliminated Calica, and 15 seed Brent Purugganan eliminated Domaguin, setting up a title match situation with Brent needing to win twice.  Purugganan had grinded through matchplay beautifully, but ran into an unstoppable force in Baker, who just kept getting better on the tricky ‘Rome’ lane pattern.  Gage dominated the first game, and claimed the title, the 8^th of his JBT career.  It’s the second straight week a previous handicap Invite champ (Baker won in 2017) has won a scratch Invite (Ezekiel Trejo did it in Mojave).

          Matthew Krause was dominant in the handicap qualifying round, but had a rough go in matchplay, opening up the bracket for red-hot 12 seed Brian Rossi, who started 5-0 before Ly gave him loss number one.  Both hung around until round eight, and in those matches Rossi was eliminated by #15 Franklin Judd, while Russell gave #3 Andrew Wang his second loss.  This gave Ly a bye while Judd eliminated Wang, setting up a single game title match.  In that final, Russell rolled a confident game to grab the title and win, the first if his JBT career, and $1,000 top scholarship windfall.

          For the girls scratch final we were once again treated to a battle of two of the best in the world in our age range, and it was Katelyn Abigania getting by Avery Domaguin for that title.  Gage doubled his fun with an earlier win over Brandon Rother for the U17 Invite title.

          Deep thanks to Daniel and the whole Winnetka team for another flawless job hosting our events.  Top season long point scorers now move on to the Touring Players Championship, our most important event with top prestige and $2,900 first place prizes on the line!     

JBT 2025 INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTS

$25,000 in scholarships

MINIMUM GUARANTEED!

Mojave: June 1, 9:30 AM, at Strike Zone

So Cal: June 8, 9:30 AM, at Winnetka Bowl

Mountain: June 15, 9:30 AM, Silva Lanes

Pac NW: June 22, 9:30 AM, at Triangle Bowl

Arizona: June 28, 11 AM, at Let It Roll   (T of C/ non-C Sunday 6/29)

ENTRY FEE: $60

Includes all scholarships except $2 scholarship brackets in both divisions

Eligibility:

Each event is open to anyone making TWO top-5 finishes in that Conference this season,

OR the top 40 in season-long points in that Conference after the last regular season event in that Conference

Format:

-QUALIFYING: Bowl 5 games across 10 lanes.   The top eleven 5-game totals, plus the top 5 season-long point scorers, advance to the triple-elimination finals!  (If a top-5 player does not bowl or chooses to bowl in the opposite division, additional bowlers will be taken to complete a 16-player field)

-FINALS: Bowlers will play TRIPLE elimination match play (keep bowling until you lose 3 times), until a winner is determined

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GUARANTEED PRIZE FUNDS, each event:

1^st-$1,000

2^nd- $500

3^rd- $250

4^th- $125

5^th- $100

Additional spots earn scholarships on a 1:6 ratio

PLUS The top 5 point scorers going into each Invite will have Invite winnings augmented to $50 minimum

ALL OTHER JBT RULES APPLY. SEE YOU THERE, DON’T MISS IT!!!