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Update: Plaza Bowl in Ripon cancels new Scratch Sport Shot Tournament that had been set for Sept. 30-Oct. 29
Update Sept. 15, 2023:
Plaza Bowl proprietor Bill Fabian said he was canceling the Plaza Bowl Scratch Sport Shot Tournament "due to a lack of interest. It was ambitious but nothing ventured, nothing gained."
It's too bad this concept didn't draw more interest, because it's a great concept. But tournament bowlers are a fickle lot and it's hard to predict what will work.
Original story Aug. 1, 2023:
Bill Fabian is ambitiously launching a new sport short tournament this fall that aims to pay $10,000 for first for team and $1,000 for first for singles.
The Inaugural Plaza Bowl Scratch Sport Shot Tournament will run weekends Sept. 30 through Oct. 29 at Plaza Bowl in Ripon, which he bought from the Shady family.
Fabian was part of the UW-La Crosse team with Mike Shady that beat Marc McDowell's powerful West Texas State team for the Intercollegiate Team Championships title in 1984-85. And Fabian teamed with Jay Nephew to win the doubles title with a record 1,573 in the 2023 Wisconsin State USBC Senior State Tournament, as I detailed in this story.
The entry fee is $300 per 4-person team and that includes singles entries. The entry is $250 to the prize fund, $48 for lineage at $3 per game, and a $2 administrative fee. Side pockets and brackets will be available.
Based on 100 entries, the prize fund for team will be $10,000 for first, $5,000 for second, $2,500 for third, $2,000 for fourth, $1,500 for fifth, $1,000 for sixth through 10th, $800 for 11th through 15th, and $700 for 16th through 20th.
Based on 100 entries, the prize fund for individuals will be $1,000 for first, $750 for second, $500 for third, $400 for fourth, $300 for fifth, and $200 for sixth through 10th.
The format will be four games across eight lanes on the Highway to Hell lane pattern, which is 40 feet featuring a 38-foot drop brush, 26.45 mL of oil divided at 12.75 mL forward and 13.7 mL reverse, and ratios of 2.21-1 middle-outside track, 1.32-1 middle-middle track and 1.01-1 middle-inside track. The PDF of the pattern is attached to this story.
Teams can have no more than two current PBA/PBA50/PWBA members on a single team. Teams can bowl multiple squads, but must change at least two members.
Squads are 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday every weekend from Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 to Oct. 28-29. Squads are limited to 12 teams.
To reserve a spot, e-mail PlazaTeamTourney@gmail.com or wmfabian720@gmail.com.
The PDF of the entry flyer is attached to this story.
