KEYSTONE LANES

JP Griffin, Elias O'Hollaren, Akayla Orosco, Emily Cheesman

        Two younger but veteran JBT bowlers added titles to their collections in exciting Southern California Conference action at Norwalk's Keystone Lanes.

        Bowlers competed on a challenging pattern for the second straight day to open the conference's season, and then had to navigate the perils of a head to head matchplay bracket to reach the finals.  In scratch, O'Hollaren stopped Allex Zieg in one semifinal, while JP Griffin eliminated Chris Mayes on the other side, to set up the title match.  Griffin's previous high finish was a second place also at Keystone, and he had a chance to avenge not only that but numerous losses to O'Hollaren with a tenth frame title match strike.  Griffin threw it great but a 7-pin stood, and Elias escaped with his 6th career JBT title (at just 14 years old) with the 212-203 win.

        In the handicap bracket, #16 Jimmy Pfaff (who earlier knocked off top seed Bryce Nakunz) eliminated #6 Aarin Shepard, and #3 Orosco got past #10 RJ Escubel IV (the high finisher from Keystone) to set up the title match.  The final was all Akayla as Jimmy lost the look that had let him to roll through the bracket, and the 2021 TPC runner-up got the bad taste of that loss out of the way with the win, and the second title of her JBT career.

        Emily Cheesman beat Orosco for the Girls Scratch win, while U17 went to Griffin.  Big thanks to everyone for attending, as well as Keystone for their usual great hosting job.  Want a part of all this fun for all skill levels and ages?  Just come on out to our next event, that's all you have to do!

Date: Sunday September 19  (This is ONE tournament that is one day long. Saturday is a separate one day event.  You can bowl only Saturday, only Sunday, or both).  

Start Time: Sunday qualifying squad at 9 AM, one squad only.

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% to a maximum of 16 move on 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 8/1/21 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.  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 Southern California Conference 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.  At the end of the season, the top 32 in So Cal points, plus anyone who had a top-4 finish in a So Cal JBT event this season, advance to the Invitational.

Entry fee: $50 handicap; $60 scratch.  Scholarship brackets are available for $2 each.  Raffle tickets for Ebonite bowling balls, and our PowerBowl and '25' jackpots, are available on-site. 

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 in scratch are $300, $150, $100, $60.  In handicap, $250, $125, $75, $50.  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 $2,000 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, hats, 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:

PLEASE do not forget to contact us if you need to cancel or adjust your reservation.