1.) The Alamo City Tournament (ACT) will be held Friday, January 16, 2026, through Sunday, January 18, 2026. 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 following all USBC rules. Participation is limited to 44 teams of four (4) 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 the following rules and/or USBC rules.

2.) CERTIFICATION: In accordance with Rule 300c, all participants must be USBC members and provide proof of membership (USBC I.D. 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. Please note that participants who pay this fee are not eligible for USBC awards. If a participant is not a member of IGBO, they must also pay a $30.00 Associate Membership fee. This fee must be paid online prior to the start of the event, as IGBO no longer accepts paper applications.

3.) TOURNAMENT EVENTS: The Tournament will include Handicap Singles, Doubles, Teams, and Individual All Events competitions. Each event will consist of three (3) games. All bowlers will compete on an equal basis in both Handicap and Scratch divisions. Doubles partners must be from 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 (minimum 18 games, with tournament scores bowled between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025) and the bowler’s 2024–2025 USBC Standard Composite Average (minimum 21 games).

B. If no IGBO TAD Average exists, the 2024–2025 USBC Standard Composite Average (minimum 21 games) will be used.

C. If no 2024–2025 USBC Standard Composite Average exists, the bowler’s highest current league average (minimum 21 games) will be used.

D. If no current league average exists, the 2023–2024 USBC Standard Composite Average will be used.

E. If none of the above exist, the bowler will enter using a scratch score equal to the highest average in the tournament.

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

5.) HANDICAP: Each bowler's tournament handicap shall be based upon 90% of the difference between the highest entered average in the tournament and the bowler's entering tournament average.

6.) OPTIONAL SCRATCH COMPETITION: The fee for the Optional Scratch event is twenty-five U.S. dollars ($25.00) per bowler. One hundred percent (100%) of these entry fees will be paid back to 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 (9) 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. A bowler may win only one (1) award. Optional Scratch will pay out a minimum of 1 in 10 entries in each division.

DIVISION A: AVERAGE 0 – 154
DIVISION B: AVERAGE 155-169
DIVISION C: AVERAGE 170-184
DIVISION D: AVERAGE 185-199
DIVISION E: AVERAGE 200-214
DIVISION F: AVERAGE 215 & ABOVE

7.) SCRATCH MASTERS: On Sunday, after the completion of the Singles Event, the Scratch Masters competition will begin (approx. 5:00 PM start time). The tournament will take all 9 scratch games bowled during the singles, doubles, and team events. The top 8 bowlers in the 6 divisions, determined by average, will qualify for the Scratch Masters event. The Scratch Masters division and cost for entry are detailed below:

DIVISION A: AVERAGE 0 – 154 ($30.00)
DIVISION B: AVERAGE 155-169 ($35.00)
DIVISION C: AVERAGE 170-184 ($40.00)
DIVISION D: AVERAGE 185-199 ($45.00)
DIVISION E: AVERAGE 200-214 ($50.00)
DIVISION F: AVERAGE 215 & ABOVE ($55.00)

Each Scratch Masters division will pay out 100% of the monies collected minus lineage. THE LANES WILL NOT BE CONDITIONED BEFORE THE SCRATCH MASTERS COMPETITION BEGINS. The following are the rules for the event:

A. Bowling will take place across 3 pairs of lanes. All bowlers will receive 10 minutes of practice. Bowlers may practice on all lanes allocated for their division.

B. Round 1. All 8 bowlers will bowl 2 games across 2 pairs of lanes, switching pairs after the first game. The 4 highest total scores bowled will move on to round 2 of the competition with the lowest 4 total scores being eliminated. The 4 lowest scoring bowlers will all be paid out an equal amount.

C. Round 2. The remaining 4 bowlers will bowl 1 game, 1 pair to the right of the previous 2 pairs of lanes that were bowled on. The top 2 highest scores bowled will move on to the championship match with the 2 lowest scores bowled being eliminated. The 2 lowest scoring bowlers will be paid out an equal amount.

D. Championship Match. The two remaining bowlers will bowl a best out of three match. This is not for a total pins set. The bowler with the highest qualifying score in the previous round will decide which of the 3 pair of lanes that were bowled on will be used for the championship match, in addition, they will decide which bowler will bowl first. At the end of the best 2 out of 3 match one bowler will earn the Scratch Masters title in their division and the other will receive second place. Splitting the prize and foregoing bowling is not allowed. All bowlers making the top 8 will at least win their entry fee back.

E. All ties will be broken by a 9th and 10th frame roll off.

F. If there is a tie for 8th place at qualifying, the bowler with the highest scratch set during singles, doubles and team events will qualify 8th place.

G. All other rules and adjustments are determined by the tournament official running the scratch masters event.

8.) FEES / REFUNDS: The Tournament entry fee is one hundred twenty-five U.S. dollars ($125.00). Entry fees must be submitted with the Tournament entry. Spots are not guaranteed until payment is received. Once payment has been processed, no refunds will be issued without approval from the Tournament Directors. Any request for a refund must be submitted in writing, state the reason for the request, and be presented to a Tournament Director.

9.) ENTRIES / VERIFICATION: Tournament entries will close on December 31, 2025, or once all 176 individual spots have been filled and paid for, whichever comes first. Only online payments will be accepted. 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 that all required information has been submitted for verification. Each bowler is responsible for verifying the accuracy of their average, whether submitted by themselves, their team captain, or another party. If the correct average is found to be higher than the submitted average, all positions and prizes will be forfeited. If the correct average is found to be lower than the submitted average, the submitted average will still be used for prize and position determination. Average corrections may be made by the bowler up until the start of practice for the Doubles Event.

10.) CHECK-IN TIME & PRACTICE BALLS: Check - in time for all bowlers is thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of their scheduled event(s) each day. Team Captains will check - in for the Team Event, after all bowlers are present. Bowlers shall have ten (10) minutes of practice on the assigned lanes prior to each event.

11.) LATE BOWLERS AND SUBSTITUTIONS: It shall be the sole responsibility of each bowler to be present at the assigned lane at the time of bowling. Each bowler shall have the responsibility to arrive in time to bowl without regard to transportation irregularities, improper directions, mechanical failures, or any other reason. Late bowlers shall begin bowling in the frame in which they are ready with prior frames scored at zero (0). If a team member is not present, the team may use an authorized substitute per event. If no substitute is available, a zero (0) score will be used for the missing bowler. Substitutes will be allowed at the discretion of the Tournament Director(s) after meeting with the Team Captain. Substitutes must complete an entry form prior to bowling and adhere to all tournament rules.

12.) PRIZES: Each event will have its own prize list, with at least 100% cash return for all prize fees. Team, Doubles, and Singles Events shall pay a minimum of 1 in 8 entries. Individual All Events will pay a minimum of 1 in 10 entries. All monies will be mailed out within thirty (30) days. A tie in any position will result in equal division of prizes.

13.) PROTESTS: A protest or appeal involving eligibility or playing rules must be filed with the Tournament Management, the local association or USBC by a participating bowler within 72 hours of the close of the tournament. The protest or appeal must be in writing and the grounds for the protest or appeal briefly stated. An appeal regarding the decision of the Tournament Management or local association may be made to USBC. The decision of USBC is final and binding on all involved parties. Prizes for the positions affected will not be distributed until the protest or appeal is resolved.

14.) EQUIPMENT RULE: All bowling balls must be USBC approved, properly drilled, and meet all USBC requirements. Balls must have been released and available for public purchase no later than the start of ACT 2026 on January 16, 2026. Pre-release and test equipment is not permitted.