Rules

2027 Phoenix Regional Invitational Tournament (PRIT) Rules

As of 12 September 2026

Eligibility

  1. The Phoenix Regional Invitational Tournament will be a mixed handicap by invitation only.
  2. PRIT is a gender neutral handicap bowling tournament competition.  All entrants are in competition against their peer bowlers regardless of gender and identity.
  3. This tournament will be a USBC certified event and will be held in accordance with USBC rules and regulations.
  4. This tournament is an IGBO affiliated tournament.
  5. All entrants are required to hold a current a 2026/2027 USBC membership card (USBC Rule 300c). Participants who are not members of USBC can qualify for an entry by paying a participation fee of $5.00. Participants paying the participation fee are not eligible for USBC awards, per USBC Rule 300c1(b).
  6. All entrants are required to be a current IGBO member.  Participants who are not members of IGBO can qualify for an entry by purchasing an Individual Membership on IGBO’s website. (https://www.igbo.org/join-igbo/)
  7. You must be 21 years of age or older by the date of the tournament to be eligible to bowl.
  8. This is an Invitational Tournament.  The Tournament Executive Directorship have the right to refuse entrance to any bowler.

Entering Average

Any bowler entering PRIT 2027 must have established a ten-pin average acceptable to USBC. The following rules shall be used to determine the entering average:

  1. Bowlers will use the highest of the following:
    1. The bowler’s 2025/2026 composite average, if none, the 2024/2025 composite average.
    2. The bowler’s highest league average, 21 games or more, as of 12/31/2026 (A 12/31/2025 standing sheet must be provided).
    3. The bowlers IGBO TAD average with a minimum of 21 games (previous calendar year 01/01/26 – 12/31/26).
    4. If none of the above is available, an entering average of 230 or an average established by the tournament director(s) shall be used.
  2. Entries without proper average verification will not be accepted.
  3. The tournament director reserves the right to adjust a bowler’s average if just cause is presented.
  4. Sport League Averages will follow USBC conversion rates.
  5. Failure to provide proper documentation of the correct average when required shall disqualify tournament scores if submitted average is lower than the actual average.
  6. All average challenges must be made to the Tournament Directors and/or Statistician prior to the start of the first event.

Tournament Handicap

  1. Bowler’s tournament handicap shall be 90% of the difference between the bowler’s entering average and the highest attendee bowler’s entering average.
    1. For Example:  If the highest entering average is 245 your entering average is 195, your per game handicap will be calculated as follows:
      • (245 (highest entering average) – 195 (your entering average) = 50.  50 (difference calculated previously) x 90% = 45.  45 will be your per game handicap.

General

  1. Substitutes may be used with the approval from the Tournament Directors. Any substitute that replaces a bowler for the entire tournament and cashes in singles, doubles, or team events will receive payment only in excess of the entry fee. The original bowling entry fee will be returned to the paying entrant. Substitute average will follow the same rules for entering average.  See Entering Average.
  1. Late bowlers will start in the frame in which they are ready to bowl with all prior frames being scored as zero (0).
  1. Bowlers are permitted to bowl only once in each event.
  1. Teams shall consist of four (4) bowlers.
  1. A team may not have more than one (1) PBA or Senior PBA card holder.
  1. Full team entries will be given priority in squad time preferences. Partial Entries will be accepted and every effort will be made to grant the requested squad times.
  2. Bowlers will be given 10 minutes of practice before each squad.
  3. Lane courtesy rule is one (1) lane.
  4. The Tournament Directors reserve the right to deny entry, disqualify, or remove from competition any bowler who is found to be in violation of any tournament rules.  Excessive intoxication, disruptive, harassing, intimidating or threatening behavior will not be tolerated and will be grounds for immediate disqualification without a refund.

Scoring Errors and Protests

  1. After a score has been recorded, it cannot be changed unless an obvious error in scoring or calculation has occurred. Obvious errors must be corrected by a tournament official immediately upon discovery. Questionable errors must be reported to a tournament official within one (1) hour of the error and will be decided by Tournament Management. (USBC Rule 328).
  2. Protests and appeals must be in writing, stating the grounds for the protest and/or appeal. All protests or appeals must be received within 48 hours of completion of the final scheduled event.
    1. The decision of the tournament management shall be final unless a written appeal is filed with the local association or USBC Headquarters prior to tournament prizes being awarded/paid. Upon notification of a protest or appeal, tournament management must withhold all affected prizes until the protest or appeal is resolved.

Financial

  1. No entries will be accepted without full payment.
  2. Payments will be accepted until the entry deadline.
  3. All prize fees collected in an event will be returned 100% and will be paid at a minimum of a 1:6 ratio for the participants in that event.
  4. Entry fees will be broken down as follows:
    Lineage $32.85/bowler
    Prize Fund $27.15/bowler
    IGBO $2.00/bowler
    Banquet / Hosp $50.00/bowler
    Trophies/Admin $13.00/bowler
    Total Entry Fee $125.00
  5. All prize money will be paid by check after verification of all averages and scores and within 30 days after completion of the tournament in compliance with USBC rules.
  1. Entries must be received by 1/31/27. Entries received after 1/31/27 will be accepted at sole discretion of the Tournament Directors. Please note: missing data on entry forms or entries received without payment will result in delayed processing, which could potentially affect our ability to grant requested squad times.
  2. The Tournament Directors will resolve any issues that may arise which are not clearly covered in these rules.

Scratch Masters

  1. The Scratch Masters competition is open to PRIT 2027 bowlers only.
  2. Divisions will be as follows:
    • A – 200 and higher
    • B – 185-199
    • C – 170-184
    • D – 155-169
    • E – 154 and below
  1. The prize fund for the Scratch Masters event is based solely on the number of participants less lineage fees for each division. The award ratio by division shall be at a minimum of 1 in 2 entries, with a maximum of six (6) places paid in each division.
  1. The nine (9) game scratch totals from the bowler’s singles, doubles and team events are used to determine the six (6) qualifiers and two (2) alternates for the competition. If a tie exists for 6th place, the bowler with the highest scratch three (3) game singles series will qualify. If a tie exists on singles, then doubles series will qualify. If a tie exits on doubles series, then team series will qualify.
  1. The competition will consist of three (3) games. All six (6) competitors from each Division will bowl game one (1) with the two (2) bowlers having the lowest scores eliminated from the competition. The remaining four (4) bowlers will bowl game two (2) with the two (2) bowlers having the lowest scores eliminated from the competition. The remaining two (2) bowlers will bowl game three (3), the bowler with the highest score will be the Scratch Masters winner for their respective Division.
  1. When determining advancing competitors or winners, if a TIE exists during any game of the competition, a three (3) frame roll off will determine the winner.
  1. A lane schedule will be posted before the squad begins. This will list the lane that each bowler is to bowl on.
  1. Qualifying bowlers and alternates must physically sign in at the bowling center at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled start of competition (prior to 8:45 am). The scheduled Scratch Roll Off competition will begin promptly at 9:00 am. A bowler that has not signed in by 8:45 am will be disqualified and the alternate will be used.  A disqualified bowler will forfeit their entry fee.
  1. A bowler that is unable to continue during any portion of the Scratch Masters will receive a score of zero (0) for any remaining frames or games. The opposing bowler will bowl the game as if in competition.
  1. There will be ten (10) minutes practice, prior to the first game only.