PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING FORM
2027 ALABAMA MASTERS TOURNAMENT RULES
1. RULES and REGULATIONS: United States Bowling Congress rules and regulations will govern this tournament.
2. DRESS CODE AND CONDUCT: BOWLING SHIRTS WITH NAME ON BACK OF SHIRT REQUIRED. Long pants (slacks or jeans) are required during all rounds of competition. No shorts, tank tops, T-shirts, hats or headphones/earbuds permitted. No use of tobacco/vapes during competition – For all conduct or dress violations: 1st offense warning, 2nd offense disqualification without refund.
3. URETHANE BALL RULE: ONLY 78D URETHANE BALLS WILL BE ALLOWED. MUST BE FOUND ON PBA LIST OF APPROVED URETHANE BALLS AS OF 4/1/26. USE OF ANY URETHANE BALL NOT ON PBA APPROVED LIST WILL BE CAUSE FOR IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION WITHOUT REFUND.
4. ENTRANCE ELIGIBILITY: NO YOUTH BOWLERS. Participation in Alabama Masters shall be available to all current USBC members who meet one of these criteria: 1) AL resident with 2026/27 USBC membership. 2) Members of the Alabama State Hall of Fame with 2025/26 USBC membership are eligible regardless of residency. 3) Out of state residents are permitted if they bowl 21gms or more in 2026/27 season in an Alabama UBSC sanctioned league.
5. ENTRY FEES: Entry fee in this tournament will be $180.00 (lineage $38.25, Expenses $11.75, prize fund $130.00). There will be an early entry fee of $150.00 that must be postmarked by February 28th, 2027. (lineage $38.25, Expenses $11.75, prize fund $100.00). Only paid entry guarantees your spot. Walk-in entries allowed up to a maximum field of 78 bowlers, CASH ONLY. REFUNDS: A 100% refund will be given if bowler withdraws with notice by March 31st, 2027. $50 penalty if bowler withdraws between April 1st-April 8th, 2027. No refunds after April 8th, 2027.
6. PAYMENTS: Make all checks payable to David Han, and please note 2027 ALABAMA MASTERS in memo. A $40.00 fee will be charged for returned checks. No certified or registered mail will be accepted. No cash payment by mail. Cash ONLY during walk-in entry on day of tournament or when entry is given to tournament director in person. CashApp will also be accepted up to April 8th, 2027. Contact Dave Han for details.
7. LANE ASSIGNMENTS: All lane assignments will be done at random prior to day of tournament, then walk-in entries will fill in open spots on a first come, first served. NO LANE ASSIGNMENT REQUESTS will be honored to have bowlers bowl on same pair during qualifying. For match play rounds, lane assignments will be pre-determined, and the bowler with higher seed will choose starting lane.
8. TOURNAMENT FORMAT: a. QUALIFYING. Bowlers compete in one round on Saturday - (6) games qualifying, moving pairs each game – lane cross to be determined day of tournament based on number of lanes in use. Total pinfall will determine advancers to match play. TOP 15 and defending champion will advance to match play (based on 64 entries) Format will be adjusted if less than 64 bowlers. b. MATCH PLAY: Advancers to match play will compete on Sunday in 2-game matches, winner advances by total pinfall. Players will be seeded based on qualifying position. #1 will bowl #16, #2 will bowl #15 and so on. Match play will be a double-elimination format, up to top 4 – who then will compete in stepladder format. In the finals, the #1 will have to be beaten twice to lose. After all bowlers have competed in 1 round of match play, there will be no warmup going into following rounds. A warmup pair will be provided to any bowler having to wait for a round to complete. (1) lane courtesy during all rounds. 25-second clock will be utilized to deter slow play. A player will be warned, then if continued could result in zero pins for that potential delivery.
9. TOURNAMENT AWARDS: a. The winner of the tournament will receive a paid entry to the 2027 USBC Masters or Senior Masters at the choice of the winner. If a woman wins, they may select 2027 USBC Queens or Senior Queens, if desired. This award cannot be substituted for cash, unless USBC denies entry. b. There will be a cash prize fund as well, with the top 16 cashing. c. A trophy will be awarded to the winner. d. FREE Bowlifi custom jersey. Code to be provided by Bowlifi. *Entry for Masters will be paid on player’s behalf 1st eligible day of entering Masters tournament. Player is responsibility to provide all entry info.
10. TIES: a. qualifying.If there is a tie for the last advancer spot to match play round, a 1 game roll-off will take place immediately following the end of qualifying. Players for roll-off must be ready right after qualifying. If 1gm roll-off ends in a tie, a 1 ball roll-off will determine winner. Ties for any other cash position will be split. Ties for positioning of seeding that does not affect a bye will be determined by high qualifying game. b. Match play. If there is a tie at the end of a 2-game total pin match, a 1 ball roll-off will determine the winner.
11. BRACKETS/HIGH GAME POTS/CALCUTTA: Brackets and high game pots will be made available during qualifying round. All must be paid at sign-up for brackets and high game pot. Must specify exact number of brackets to enter. No requests for “all brackets” or owning up at the end will be honored. Sign-up will be permitted until the end of practice. Calcutta will be ran following qualifying on Saturday for the top 16 who make it to Sunday. Top 4 will get paid the following: 1st: 50%, 2nd: 25%, 3rd: 15%, 4th: 10%.
12. LIABILITY: All tournament participants agree that the tournament director, workers and bowling center shall be liable only to the extent of returning entry fees if, and when, said entrant shall be prevented from bowling through delay, unexpected yet necessary schedule change, or premature termination of the tournament, which may be brought about by war, national emergency or causes ratings thereto or resulting there from fires, strikes, lockouts, floods, or other causes beyond the control of the tournament.
13. OIL PATTERN: The oil pattern will be the 2026 USBC MASTERS pattern. Back up pattern will be 2024 USBC Masters pattern, if necessary. Oil will be fresh for qualifying squad, and at the start of match play. There will be no re-oil during match play after 1st round. Stepladder final may be on fresh oil, to be determined day of event based on lane availability and house operations.
THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR SHALL DECIDE ANY QUESTIONS/DISPUTES NOT COVERED BY THESE RULES.