Update: Joe Engelkes reported Thursday morning that the 192-bowler field now has two openings each on A squad and B squad with another opening possiblly available on each squad. It had been completely full on Sunday, but injuries and changed plans made for the handful of openings. Engelkes also released squad assignments, which are attached at the end of this blog.
Greater Iowa Bowling Association operator Joe Engelkes announced Friday that the lane pattern for the Fusion Realtors Open would be a 39-foot Sport pattern with a ratio just under 3-1 and about 23 mL of oil.
Host center Cadillac Lanes in Waterloo, Iowa, has Brunswick synthetics that historically play fairly tight so those parameters should make for a medium pattern for the huge tournament set for Sept. 15-16.
The graph of the pattern will be posted starting at the practice session Friday and throughout the weekend, Engelkes said.
The Fusion Realtors Open has more than $12,000 in added money and InsideBowling.com will be webcasting the tournament.
Engelkes also announced that the 192-bowler field is nearly full, with just 11 spots remaining as of Friday morning. Those who haven't sent their entry fee could get locked out if 192 players pay, Engelkes warned.
Engelkes also released a new flyer (attached at the end of this blog) with a couple of changes stemming from the huge field, most notably that the maximum number of brackets a bowler can enter has been increased from 60 to 80.
Engelkes also said that Cadillac will be renting a second oiling machine "set up the same way as their machine. We will use each machine on exactly the same lanes for both squads on Saturday in order to do everything possible to make things fair to all."
Cadillac is going to leave a couple of pairs open Friday night with the lane pattern on them for bowlers who can't make the 4-6 p.m. practice session. "The space will be limited so your best bet is to make the practice session," Engelkes said.
Lanes will be drawn just before each squad starts. Skipping procedure will alternate after each game so bowlers don't always follow the same bowlers.
Anyone who wants to volunteer for the pro-am on Friday at 6:30 p.m. can contact Engelkes. Those who bowl as pros will be paid $30.
For full details on the tournament, go to my blog here. It includes links to information about the tournament and last year's event, which was won by Matt McNiel.
Another Fusion Realtors Open is scheduled for Feb. 22-24, 2013 at Maple Lanes in Waterloo.
Fusion Realtors Open flyer (updated)
