1. TOURNAMENT INFORMATION The Alamo City Tournament (ACT) will be held Friday, January 15, 2027, through Sunday, January 17, 2027. This IGBO affiliated tournament is open to anyone over the age of 18 by invitation only. It will be a mixed handicap competition certified by USBC and will follow all USBC rules. Participation is limited to 80 teams of four bowlers of any gender identity. There is no average cap for this tournament. The Tournament Directors reserve the right to refuse any entry and will resolve any issue not covered by these rules or USBC rules.

2. ENTRY AND CERTIFICATION: The registration fee is $125.00 and must be paid in full by each team member to secure the team’s spot in the Tournament. Regular registration will close on December 31, 2026, or when all 320 individual spots have been filled and paid for, whichever occurs first. Late entries or late payments may be accepted after December 31, 2026, at the discretion of the Tournament Directors if space remains and will be subject to a $10.00 late entry fee. Only online payments will be accepted, and entries will be processed in the order they are received. Partial team entries will be accepted, and the Tournament Directors will make every effort to fill vacancies, provided all required information has been submitted. In accordance with USBC Rule 300c, all participants must be USBC members and provide proof of membership through a USBC identification card or a signed statement from their League Secretary. Non USBC members may qualify by paying a $10.00 participant fee to become tournament certified. Participants who pay this fee are not eligible for USBC awards. Participants who are not members of IGBO must also pay a $30.00 Associate Membership fee. This fee must be paid online before the event begins because IGBO no longer accepts paper applications.

3. TOURNAMENT EVENTS: The Tournament will include Handicap Singles, Doubles, Team, and Individual All Events competitions. Each event will consist of three games. All bowlers will compete on an equal basis in both the Handicap and Scratch divisions. Doubles partners must be members of the same team. Bowlers may enter each Tournament event only once.

4. ENTERING AVERAGE: Any bowler entering the Alamo City Tournament must establish a ten pin average acceptable to USBC. This excludes USBC Sport, PBA Experience, or any league that identifies itself as having more difficult lane conditions. Averages will be determined as follows:

     A. ACT will use a composite of the bowler’s current IGBO TAD Average, based on a minimum of 18 games with tournament scores bowled between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026, and the bowler’s 2025 through 2026 USBC Standard Composite Average, based on a minimum of 21 games.

     B. If no IGBO TAD Average exists, the 2025 through 2026 USBC Standard Composite Average, based on a minimum of 21 games, will be used.

     C. If no 2025 through 2026 USBC Standard Composite Average exists, the bowler’s highest current league average, based on a minimum of 21 games, will be used.

     D. If no current league average exists, the 2024 through 2025 USBC Standard Composite Average will be used.

     E. If none of the above averages exist, the bowler will enter using a scratch score equal to 230.

     F. The Alamo City Tournament does not recognize the 10 pin rule under USBC Rule 319a.2. However, the Tournament Directors reserve the right to rerate a bowler at the start of any event.

The Tournament will calculate each bowler’s entering average using the records and information available to Tournament Management. Each bowler is responsible for reviewing the calculated average and notifying Tournament Management of any missing or inaccurate information before the beginning of practice for the Singles Event. If the bowler’s correct average is later determined to be higher than the calculated entering average, all positions and prizes will be forfeited. If the correct average is determined to be lower than the calculated entering average, the original calculated average will remain in effect for determining positions and prizes.

5. HANDICAP: Each bowler’s tournament handicap will be based on 90 percent of 230.

6. OPTIONAL SCRATCH COMPETITION: The entry fee for the Optional Scratch Competition is $25.00 per bowler. One hundred percent of the entry fees will be paid back through the event. All Optional Scratch fees must be paid at registration. There will be six divisions in the Optional Scratch Competition. Scores will be based on all scratch scores bowled across the nine games of the Handicap Tournament. Cash prizes will be awarded for High Scratch Game, High Scratch Series, and All Events within each division to participants who have paid the Optional Scratch entry fee. A bowler may win only one award. The Optional Scratch Competition will pay a minimum of one in every 10 entries in each division.

DIVISION A: AVERAGE 0 THROUGH 154.
DIVISION B: AVERAGE 155 THROUGH 169.
DIVISION C: AVERAGE 170 THROUGH 184.
DIVISION D: AVERAGE 185 THROUGH 199.
DIVISION E: AVERAGE 200 THROUGH 214.
DIVISION F: AVERAGE 215 AND ABOVE.

7. SCRATCH MASTERS: On Sunday, following the completion of the Singles Event, the Scratch Masters Competition will begin at approximately 5:00 p.m. The Tournament will use all nine scratch games bowled during the Singles, Doubles, and Team Events. The top eight bowlers in each of the six divisions, determined by entering average, will qualify for the Scratch Masters Competition. The divisions and entry fees are as follows:

DIVISION A: AVERAGE 0 THROUGH 154, $30.00 ENTRY FEE.
DIVISION B: AVERAGE 155 THROUGH 169, $35.00 ENTRY FEE.
DIVISION C: AVERAGE 170 THROUGH 184, $40.00 ENTRY FEE.
DIVISION D: AVERAGE 185 THROUGH 199, $45.00 ENTRY FEE.
DIVISION E: AVERAGE 200 THROUGH 214, $50.00 ENTRY FEE.
DIVISION F: AVERAGE 215 AND ABOVE, $55.00 ENTRY FEE.

Each Scratch Masters division will pay out 100 percent of the money collected, minus lineage. THE LANES WILL NOT BE CONDITIONED BEFORE THE SCRATCH MASTERS COMPETITION BEGINS. The following rules apply to the Scratch Masters Competition:

A. Bowling will take place across three pairs of lanes. All bowlers will receive 10 minutes of practice and may practice on all lanes allocated to their division.

B. ROUND 1: All eight bowlers will bowl two games across two pairs of lanes, switching pairs after the first game. The four bowlers with the highest total scores will advance to Round 2. The four bowlers with the lowest total scores will be eliminated and will each receive an equal payout.

C. ROUND 2: The remaining four bowlers will bowl one game on the pair of lanes located one pair to the right of the two pairs previously used. The two bowlers with the highest scores will advance to the Championship Match. The two bowlers with the lowest scores will be eliminated and will each receive an equal payout.

D. CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: The two remaining bowlers will compete in a best two out of three match. The match will not be determined by total pins. The bowler with the highest qualifying score from the previous round will select which of the three previously used pairs of lanes will be used for the Championship Match and will decide which participant bowls first. At the end of the match, one bowler will earn the Scratch Masters title for the division, and the other bowler will receive second place. Splitting the prize and choosing not to bowl is not permitted. Every bowler who qualifies for the top eight will receive at least the amount of their entry fee.

E. All ties will be broken by a ninth and tenth frame roll off.

F. If there is a tie for eighth place during qualifying, the bowler with the highest scratch series bowled during the Singles, Doubles, or Team Events will qualify for eighth place.

G. All other rules and adjustments will be determined by the Tournament Official managing the Scratch Masters Competition.

8. REFUNDS: Once payment has been processed, no refunds will be issued without approval from the Tournament Directors. Any refund request must be submitted in writing, include the reason for the request, and be presented to a Tournament Director.

9. CHECK IN TIME AND PRACTICE: Check in time for all bowlers is 30 minutes before the start of their scheduled events each day. Bowlers will receive 10 minutes of practice on their assigned lanes before each event. A late bowler who arrives before the completion of the third frame of the first game may enter the competition and complete any missed frames from Frames 1 through 3 without receiving a zero. If the bowler has not arrived by the completion of the third frame, the bowler will receive a score of zero for the first game and must wait until the beginning of the second game to begin bowling.

10. SUBSTITUTIONS: If a team member is unable to participate in an event, the team may use an authorized substitute for that event. Substitutions will be permitted at the discretion of the Tournament Directors following a discussion with the Team Captain. All substitutes must complete an entry form before bowling and must comply with all Tournament rules, including membership and average requirements. If no authorized substitute is available, the missing bowler will receive a score of zero for the event.

11. PRIZES:  The Singles, Doubles, and Team Events will pay a minimum of one in every eight entries. Individual All Events will pay a minimum of one in every 10 entries. All prize money will be mailed within 30 days following the close of the Tournament or can be paid by a payment app such as Venmo, Zelle or CashApp. A tie in any position will result in the equal division of the applicable prize money.

12. PROTESTS AND APPEALS: Any protest or appeal involving eligibility or playing rules must be filed by a participating bowler with Tournament Management, the local association, or USBC within 72 hours following the close of the Tournament. The protest or appeal must be submitted in writing and briefly state the grounds for the request. A decision made by Tournament Management or the local association may be appealed to USBC. The decision of USBC will be final and binding on all involved parties. Prizes for any affected positions will not be distributed until the protest or appeal has been resolved.

13. EQUIPMENT RULE: All bowling balls must be approved by USBC, properly drilled, and meet all USBC equipment requirements. Bowling balls must have been released and available for public purchase no later than the beginning of ACT 2027 on January 15, 2027. Prerelease, prototype, and test equipment is not permitted.

14. TOURNAMENT AUTHORITY: The Tournament Directors will interpret, administer, and enforce all Tournament rules. Any situation not specifically addressed by these rules will be resolved by the Tournament Directors in accordance with applicable USBC rules. All decisions will remain subject to the protest and appeal procedures outlined in these rules.