LBI




TOURNAMENT RULES

  1. The 34th annual Liberty Belle Invitational Tournament will be held July 5th – 7th 2024, by invitation only and is a USBC certified, IGBO affiliated event. Sanction cards will be required from regular USBC members for proof of membership. Bowlers who are not IGBO members are required to pay a $5.00 participation fee to be forwarded to IGBO. If a participant is not a member of USBC, they may bowl by paying a $5.00 USBC participation fee. Participants who pay the participation fee are not eligible for USBC awards. Active card-carrying members of the PBA must state so on their entry form. Maximum of 1 PBA member allowed per team.
  2. The LBI is a Singles, Doubles and 4-Person Team handicap event. Entrants may participate no more than one time in each of all three events. All cash awards will be based on the total pins plus assigned handicap for each event with the exception of the optional Scratch Divisions.
    1. Handicap will be 90% of the difference between 240 and each bowler's average. No negative handicaps.
    2. Women and men will compete on an equal basis in each event. Teams and doubles pairs may consist of any combination of men and women.
    3. Substitutes may bowl at the discretion of the Tournament Director and must complete the event.
    4. Six optional Scratch Divisions (139 and under, 140 to 159, 160 to 179,180 to 199, 200 to 214 and 215 and above) are available prior to the Singles event. The entry fee is $20.00 for each and all fees will be returned 100% in each division at a ratio of 1:10.
  3. The entry fee is $129.00 per person. The LBI Tournament is limited to 192 bowlers. There will be no refunds after the tournament closing date.
    1. a Non-bowler guest package is available for $45.00, Please include guest information in the designated areas of the application.
    2. The estimated breakdown of fees is as follows: Lineage - $36.00, Prize Fund - $47.25, Awards Ceremony - $45.00, IGBO - $.75 = $129.00. Guest fees include complimentary lunch on Saturday at the lanes and dinner at the Awards Ceremony banquet Sunday afternoon..
    3. All prize monies will be returned 100% within each event, on the ratio of at least 1:10 for Singles, Doubles and all-Events and 1:10 for Team, and will be payable in US Funds by mail 30 days after completion of the tournament.
    4. Entries are not considered complete until the entry fees are paid in full.
  4. Entering tournament averages will be the highest of the following:
    1. Highest final 2023-2024 USBC sanctioned Fall/Winter league average with a minimum of 21 games. Highest USBC sanctioned Fall/Winter league average from 2022-2023 season (minimum 21 games). If final 2023-2024 average is not available at time of application, your league secretary must submit averages to LBI by June 15th, 2024. Average of all IGBO tournaments bowled from 7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024, 18 games minimum, including Scratch Masters.
    2. If a bowler does not have a 2023-2024 or 2022-2023 USBC average, the following will apply in the following order.
    3. Highest USBC sanctioned Fall/Winter league average from 2021-2022 season (minimum 21 games).
    4. For comparison purposes, LBI may choose to use a bowler's 5 year LBI Tournament average based on at least 18 games bowled in prior year LBI tournaments.
    5. If a, b, c or d are not available, composite average (all leagues) recorded on bowl.com, from the 2023-2024 season or 2022-2023 season, whichever is higher (minimum 21 games total for each season) will be used.
    6. All bowlers will assume a 240 average as a basis for handicap if no average is available as stated above (USBC Rule 319b). All bowlers must submit verification of averages with your league secretary's signature with the application, or will use 240 as stated.
    7. Averages from an USBC designated Sport League will not be considered a valid entering average.
    8. The "Prize Winnings" provision (USBC Rule 319d) shall be waived.
    9. Each bowler is responsible for verifying their average, whether submitted by the bowler, the team captain or others. If the submitted average is lower than required and results in a lower classification or more handicap, the bowler's score is disqualified. If the submitted average is higher than required, prize winnings will be based on the submitted average.
    10. The Tournament Director has the authority to adjust the entering average of any bowler. Average adjustments will be made in compliance with USBC and IGBO rules and will be completed prior to the start of the tournament. Bowlers who are unwilling to accept average adjustment may choose not to compete. Should they choose not to compete, they will be entitled to a full refund of entry fees.
  5. Left or right hand must be designated. Changes in delivery hand once competition has begun may result in disqualification and/or forfeiture of prize winnings (USBC Rule 328).
  6. Ten minutes of practice will be permitted before each event. No other bowling will be permitted in tournament house between Singles and Doubles events. Late bowlers will begin bowling in the frame in which they are ready to bowl, with prior missed frames scored as zero.
  7. Claims in errors in scoring must be brought to the Tournament Director(s). The decision of the Tournament Director(s) will be final unless an appeal is made in accordance with USBC Rule 329.
  8. The closing date for LBI is June 16, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be returned.
    All other USBC and IGBO rules apply to all participants.
  9. In the best interest of the tournament competition, the Director(s) retain(s) the right to accept or reject any team or individual.
  10. All other USBC and IGBO rules apply to all participants.

Scratch Masters Event

LBI