Greater Iowa Bowling Association operator Joe Engelkes has released more details on the Fusion Realtors Open tournaments he will put on in Waterloo, Iowa, Sept. 14-16 at Cadillac Lanes and Feb. 22-24, 2013 at Maple Lanes, with most of the details on the September event.
“I currently have about $12,000.00 in added prize money for each of the two tournaments lined up thanks in large part to the Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau and Zach Beschorner with Fusion Realtors,” Engelkes said in an email to his past bowlers. “In addition, we have already lined up several other sponsors and will be working on others over the next couple of months.”
If that isn’t enough to get tournament bowlers to flock to Waterloo in those two weekends, what will?
Here is the blog I wrote when Engelkes first announced the two events. It includes many details, as well as a link to the inaugural Fusion Realtors Open last September that was won by Matt McNiel.
Engelkes said several bowlers already have paid for the September tournament — my check was mailed Thursday — with many others telling him they would be bowling. (He isn’t cashing checks until three weeks before the tournament.)
Last September’s Fusion Realtors Open was full at 128 entries about a month in advance, and I think it’s possible this September’s tournament could approach the full field of 192 at 50-lane Cadillac. February is limited to 128 entries as Maple has just 32 lanes.
Engelkes plans to use the same format — see attached flyer for full details — although he may expand the elimination round by four bowlers.
The tournaments will not be on house shots. The 2011 Fusion Realtors Openwas on the 2010 USBC Open Championships pattern and they were tough.
One important change is that Engelkes will guarantee prize money to at least one-third of the seniors (50 and older) and one-third of the women who enter. For example, if there are 30 seniors and seven cash in the regular prize list, the next three seniors will cash, with a minimum payback of $150.
(This is a great idea to help grow the field, says this senior-by-then.)
“The final prize list will be dependent on how many additional spots are paid as well as on the amount of bracket proceeds we take in since half of those proceeds will go back into the prize fund,” Engelkes said.
Another planned key change is that Mike Flanagan of InsideBowling.com will be webcasting the event, as he has done with many tournaments.
“This is something our sponsors would like to add, and I am working with both bowling centers and Brunswick to make it happen,” Engelkes said.
Here was my blog on the 2011 Fusion Realtors Open and my blog previewing that tournament.
2012 Fusion Realtors Open flyer