AMF FIREBIRD LANES

Eddie Strange, Brycen West, Danny Chalmers, Tamia Yeager

        Two first time winners emerged victorious from tremendous JBT Pacific Northwest Conference action at AMF Firebird Lanes in Tacoma.

        Scores were good but not that high overall, but the four handicap finalists were stratospheric, going a combined +1355 for their eight game totals- wow!   Brycen West began the stepladder with a 235-196 win over Carson Siems.  Newcomer Ian Enright had been brilliant all day, but West stopped him 226-203 to advance to his first career title match.

        Eddie Strange poured on the strikes to stay ahead of the field and earn the top seed, but had his hands full in a lower scoring title match.  In the end, West was able to hang on, and his title match win gave him his first career JBT title.

        The scratch division finals started ordinarily enough, with Bud Sicard shooting 212 to move on to the semifinals against Tyler Coates.  Then, from pretty much out of nowhere, the striking began, as both bowlers went front seven... then eight... then nine, as everyone took notice of potential history.  Finishing first, Tyler and his original black hammer finished off the perfect game, leaving Bud- who has three of the seven 300 games rolled on Tour this season, needing all three to tie.  He got the first but a flat 10 stopped him on the next ball, leaving him on the wrong side of a 300-289 loss, but both could celebrate the highest scoring singles match in JBT history! (Eric Hatchett 300 vs Chase Nadeau 286 was the previous high on 7/29/12).

        That left top seed Danny Chalmers, leading in scratch for the first time, having to play the incoming freight train.  However, Chalmers was more than up to the task while Coates slowed down.  Danny's second half strike string cemented a 233-204 win, good for a long awaited first career title.

        Danny doubled his fun with a U17 win over Duke Knudsen, while Tamia Yeager claimed the Girls Scratch subdivision win with a victory over Mary Sicard.  Alex Macnab 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: Saturday February 4, 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 1 PM.

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% bowl a 3 game semifinals. The top 4 then do a stepladder finals.   

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.s

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.