FOREST LANES

champs & finalists

         Gage Baker joined an elite club, while Jude Nora tasted JBT victory for the first time, in exciting Southern California Conference action at Forest Lanes.

            After qualifying, survivors competed in a new format, where once reaching sixteen bowlers, half the field is eliminated until the winner emerges, but with matchplay bonuses available to help along the way.  Twenty scratch qualifiers were carved down to four, and in that round, Baker defended his lead, but Chason Hou came up with a big win that passed Jon Abigania’s total to advance to the title match.  The final was all Gage, as he rolled a confident game to beat Hou and become the 62^nd bowler in the history of JBT to reach the 10-title plateau- congratulations!

            Twenty-eight handicap bowlers were also carved down to four, and in that round Nora and Kyeann Ogalino held on to their spots to advance to the final, while defending Bowler of the Year Harvey Howe finished third and Johanna Earle earned her first top-4 in fourth.  Jude and Kyeann, both bowlers from the Admiral Robinson program, rolled solid games, but Nora’s tenth frame was just enough to lock out Ogalino by one pin, and he earned his first career JBT title with the victory.

            Lindsay Greim swept the weekend’s Girls Scratch events with a win over Jazmyn Beck, and Abigania got some consolation with a U17 win over rising star Makaio Yu.  Thanks always to Jon and the great staff at Forest, one of the great tournament centers for their usual amazing hosting job.  Want in on all the fun?  Just check out our schedule and email us to reserve spots today!

Date: Sunday September 28, 2025  (This is ONE tournament that is one day long, open to anyone age 21 & under as of 8/1/25). 

Start Time: Bowling begins at 9 AM.

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 max of 32 advance to a "matchplay eliminator", a new format where the field is cut in half each game, and each game is also a match against a bowler on your pair (details on-site).

Divisions/ Averages:  Scratch or handicap.  It is the bowlers' choice of division.  Also, everyone age 16 or under as of 8/1/25 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 (and choose to bowl handicap), 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 24-25 average(s), and any 2025 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 So Cal 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 40 in So Cal points, plus anyone who had TWO top-5 finishes in So Cal events this season, advance to their respective Invitationals.

Entry fee: $60, $62 if paid on-site by credit card.  Scholarship brackets are available for $2 each.  Raffle tickets for bowling balls from the brands of Brunswick, and our PowerBowl and 'perfect 30' 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 an 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 sponsorships are pending final renewal for the new season.)

Scholarships: 1:6 in each division earn scholarships, scratch and handicap.  Minimum prizes are $300, $150, $100, $60.  Bowlers must finish in the top 5 twice this season in that conference 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 120 in all-conference points, qualify for the Touring Players Championship, featuring $3,000 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, or even at all.  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 to get a good idea of what you might expect.

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.