2010 Tournament Rules

1. The St. Patrick’s Invitational Tournament (SPIT), a USBC certified tournament with a Moral Support Certification for non-members of USBC, is a mixed handicap competition open to men and women by invitation. All bowlers are subject to the USBC rules and jurisdiction for the event. The Tournament will begin Friday, 19 March 2010 and end Sunday, 21 March 2010.
2. All participants must be a current member of IGBO or qualify under the Moral Support Certification. If the participant is not a member of USBC, he or she may pay the appropriate associate member fee to be eligible for USBC awards.
3. SPIT permits the participation of non-certified bowlers, who shall use a minimum average of 130. Such bowlers are required to submit all league averages and tournament scores for possible average adjustment (USBC rule319b).
4. If the bowler is not a member of IGBO, in any of its membership classes, he or she must become an IGBO Associate Member, and pay appropriate Associate membership fee. The bowler shall have the opportunity to apply for Associate Membership at the time of registration.
5. Handicap for the SPIT is 80% of the difference between the bowler’s entering average (as determined below) and 225. Negative handicap will not be applied.
6. Any bowler entering SPIT 2010 must establish a ten-pin average acceptable to USBC or qualify under rule 3. The following rules shall be used to determine the entering average:
   
   • The highest league average as of January 1, 2010 with a minimum of 21 games. If competing in more than one league, the bowler must submit averages of all leagues.
   • If no January 1 average is available, use the previous season highest book average (Minimum 21 games). If neither of these averages is available, a summer 2009 league average of at least 21 games may be used.
   • The above averages must be verified by the use of league standing sheet, signed and dated by a League Officer, or a letter from the League President or Secretary, or a photocopy of book average (with year noted), signed and dated by a League Officer.
   • If the previous season’s book average is more than 5 pins higher than the current seasons average, then book average shall be used.
   • Averages from SPORT condition (PBA experience) Leagues are unacceptable.
   • If none of the above conditions can be met, the bowler may be allowed to bowl with an entering average of 225.
     
7. Bowlers are responsible for verifying their own 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 and all prizes forfeit. If the submitted average is higher than required, prize winnings will be based on the submitted average.
8. Bowlers who have bowled 21 (or more) IGBO/USBC tournament games in the 12 months previous to SPIT (including last year’s SPIT) must report their actual scratch tournament scores for those tournaments. Bowlers with tournament averages more than 5 (five) pins higher than their verified league average(s), must use the higher tournament average. USBC Rule 319d waived.
9. The Tournament Secretary has the authority to adjust the entering average of any bowler. Average adjustments will be applied as set forth under USBC rules. All average adjustment will be completed prior to the start of the tournament. A bowler unwilling to accept an average adjustment is entitled to a full refund.
10. Entries may be submitted online at www.spitmemphis.com or by First Class US Mail with delivery confirmation (or the international equivalent thereof) to:

    St. Patrick’s Invitational Tournament
    553 S. Cooper St
    Memphis, TN 38104

11. The maximum number of entries is 240. The entry deadline is Saturday, 28 February, 2009. Entries postmarked or submitted online after that date may be accepted as space is available. Entries accepted after 6 March, 2010 are subject to a $10.00 late penalty. Entries postmarked or entered online prior to 1 February, 2010 qualify for a $5.00 early discount.
12. Payment in full is required when the entry is submitted. Entries are not complete until full payment is received. Online payment is available at the tournament’s website. Money Orders, Certified checks, Official Bank checks or cashier’s checks only should be made payable to St. Patrick’s Invitational Tournament. Personal checks will not be accepted. Once an entry is accepted, refund of entry fees will not be made, except as provided in Rule 9.
13. The entry fee is $90.00 & contributes to the following items:
    
• Linage: $24.00
• Banquet: $28.00
• IGBO Donation: $1.00
• Trophy: $7.00
• Prize fund: $30.00
  
14. Two practice balls per lane will be allowed before each event. Late bowlers must start bowling in the frame in which they are prepared to bowl; prior frames will be scored zero. All games will be conducted at Bartlett Lanes, 6276 Stage Road, Memphis, TN 38134 (901) 386-0711.
15. Bowers may bowl only once in each event. Each event consists of three (3) games with Singles and Doubles bowled in tandem. All-events consists of all 9 games bowled in the tournament. Substitutes will be allowed to bowl at the Secretary’s discretion. Any substitute must register with the secretary at least one hour before entering contest, and must meet the same qualifications as all other entrants.
16. Each event has its own prize list, with at least a 1 to 8 ratio of return. The entire entry fee contribution to the prize fund will be distributed as prizes. Special awards will be given for high game scratch, high game handicap, high series scratch, and high series handicap. A bowler may win only one special awards category.
17. St. Patrick’s Invitational Tournament pays prizes by check, mailed within 30 days of the tournament end date to the address as given on the winner’s entry form.
18. All claims of error must be submitted, in writing, to the tournament directors within one hour of the conclusion of the game in which the error is alleged. In matters of dispute, the tournament director’s decision is final unless an appeal is made in accordance with USBC Rule 329.
19. OPTIONAL SCRATCH MASTERS EVENT
20. Scratch Masters will be offered to all participants competing in singles, and doubles. Tournament Directors may re-rate a bowler into a higher division at their discretion. An entrant’s sum of singles & doubles scratch scores will be used to determine the qualifiers in each division and seeding for the elimination play. In case of a tie for the top six positions, the Team Scratch Series will determine the top six qualifiers and one alternate. There will be four (4) divisions as determined by entering average. In the event that there are not six entrants in a division, the division competition may be cancelled (and if cancelled, all entry fees will be refunded). Entrants will have the option to move to the next higher division. The divisions are defined as follows:
    
    • Division 4: averages 0 to 140
    • Division 3: averages 141 to 155
    • Division 2: averages 156 to 175
    • Division 1: averages 176 and above
      
21. The six (6) qualifiers in a division will bowl on single pair of lanes. At the end of the game, the lowest scratch score will be eliminated. The remaining five (5) bowlers will transfer to a different pair and bowl a game; the lowest scratch score will be eliminated. Play will continue in this manner until only one player remains. This player will be considered the champion of the division.
22. In the event of a tie for the lowest score in a game, both of the lowest scoring bowlers will advance to the next game, however, in the follow-on game, the two bowlers with the lowest scores will be dropped. If the tie occurs in the final game, an additional game shall be rolled to determine the winner. If a tie occurs in this follow-on game, the two bowlers will be deemed co-champions of the division and their prizes divided equitably.
23. Entry Fee for Scratch Masters is $25.00. Payout will be 100% of the entry fees less lineage. Additional moneys from sponsorships may reduce or eliminate the lineage deduction and allow for payment of more places.
24. Scratch Masters Competition will begin 30 minutes following the completion of the team event on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at Bartlett Lanes for all Divisions.