1. The Free State Classic Tenpin Tournaments are open to USBC members. Current regular full-time national members of the PBA & PWBA are not eligible to compete. Bowlers who are not USBC members may pay a membership fee prior to entering.
2. Tournaments are open to club members and non-members. Club members will pay a reduced entry fee and be eligible for the members only out-of-the-money awards.
3. Tournaments will be held per the published schedule and squad times. The closing date for entries is the last scheduled squad each weekend.
4. Bowlers’ entrance averages will be as follows: Bowlers will use their highest of their last two years’ Association Book Averages for 21 or more games (i.e., 2009-10 or 2008-09). Bowlers whose current fall/winter season’s average at the time of entry for 21 or more games is 10 or more pins higher than the highest of their previous two years’ Book Averages will use the current season’s average. Bowlers’ entrance averages will be reviewed each year. Bowlers will establish a Tour Average after 21 games are bowled and that average will be recalculated after every tour stop they bowl. The bowler’s Tour Average will always be for the last 21 games bowled. A bowler’s tour average may not drop lower than 10 pins below the entrance average rules. In the absence of a fall/winter league average, a 2010 summer league average for 30 or more games will be accepted. Bowlers without an entrance average will bowl scratch until they establish a tour average.USBC rules 319D regarding prize winnings and 319E regarding average adjustment apply to all entrants.
5. The tournament director has the right to re-rate an entrant’s average as condition of his/her entry. Rerated bowlers will be informed about their rerated average before bowling. If the rerated average is not accepted by the bowler, the entry fee shall be refunded.A bowler who places in the top two places who has less than 21 tour games, and averages 20 or more pins higher than their entering average, will be rerated to 80% of the difference between their entering average and their tour average at the next tour stop. The bowler will continue to have his/her average rerated until a 21 game tour average is established. A bowler who bowls a series 60 or more pins less than their three-game average will be credited with a three-game pinfall total for that series of their three-game average minus 60 pins.
6. When a bowler submits an average lower than his/her actual average, the bowler will be disqualified from that weekend’s competition. When a bowler submits an average higher than his/her actual average, the bowler will use that average for that weekend’s competition.
7. Entry fees for the tournament must be paid in full prior to the squad being entered. Bowlers who pay by check with insufficient funds will have to repay the entry fees plus a $25.00 service charge. Bowlers may enter as often as there are squads, but may only place once for prize position.
8. The prize fund will be returned 100% to the bowlers for each tournament. Prizes will be paid at a ratio of at least one for every 10 entries.
9. The tournament will consist of three games plus handicap. Bowlers will move one pair of lanes to the right after each game. Handicap per game will be 80% of 220. The maximum handicap a bowler can receive is 192 pins.
10. Total pinfall including handicap will determine the winners. In case of a tie for any prize positions, the tied bowlers will equally divide the prize monies involved.
11. An advertised squad must have a minimum of two bowlers in order to be conducted. These bowlers must bowl on the same pair of lanes. No other squads besides those advertised will be conducted.
12. Premature termination of the tournament brought about by war, national emergency or emergency causes relating thereto or therefrom, fire, natural disaster or any other reason beyond the control of the Free State Classic Tenpin Tour™ shall cause, to the extent required thereby, all advertised prizes, guaranteed or otherwise, to be prorated in accordance with the number of entrants who have bowled in each of the respective events up to the time of such termination.
13. The winner of each tour stop will advance to a three-game Tournament of Champions (date and site to be announced). Total three-game pinfall plus handicap will determine the winner. The first place prize will be $500. Bowlers will use the average from the time they won their tour stop or their final tour average, whichever is higher. There is also a provision for possible “wild card” entries into the Tournament of Champions. See the tournament flier for details.
14. USBC rules will govern this tournament. Matters not covered in the rules above, or by USBC, will be decided by the tournament director.