$8000 rule -St Patricks Dbls Tourn Dublin

[Kenny Taylor]

   The weekend before last I journeyed out to Dublin Ga for the St Patricks Tournament. I got there for the 2nd squad of the day and there were only4-5 pairs of bowlers, nothing like it used to be. I also notice that the shootout had been reduced to $500 from $1000. I was informed of this by last years lady champion Vanina Carlton who said she wasn't returning because of the decreased prize.

    A gentleman on my pair made it a point to inform me that "Issum" (Isom Hawes) wasn't allowed to bowl anymore because he earned over $8000.00 in tournament winnings. He then told me how much he earned last yoer and how he's doing this year.

   At the same time I watched a local sandbagger shoot about 750 scratch which when increased by his 29 pins per game hdcp gave him the tournament lead. He then suggested that he and another sandbagger bowl together with their 140+ pins hdcp on the next squad. I noticed they don't post the current standings anymore either.

    This tournament has a couple of problems. Isom is a very, very good problem but its not his fault that they stop the hae handicaps at 210. Base the handicaps at 230, give everyone under 210, 17 more pins a game, the high average bowlers will get little or no increase. The totals will rise but so will individual hdcp's and entries. By shutting out Isom and other high average bowlers who support the tournament and bring their entourages, the tournaments are hurting themselves. I also think tournament averages should be monitored just like league averages. I'll bet the tournament leaders tournament average is a lot higher than their league averages.

 As far as the shootout prize decrease is concerned, I don't think that they want the green going to the Atl, if you know what I mean.

I'm done.

[Randy Russell]

Very well said....you are seeing the same thing attempted with the idiots at the State USBC level.  They have a similar rule around the All Star tournaments in an attempt to shut out some of the bowlers from Atlanta.  It's really sad that bowling has gotten this way.