The second of this season’s two Greater Iowa Bowling Association Ebonite Classics — formerly the Fusion Realtors/Community First National Bank Opens — is set for March 26-28 at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo, Iowa, GIBA Administrator Joe Engelkes announced.

The September tournament was re-named the Ebonite Fall Classic, and the winter/spring tournament the Ebonite Winter Classic (or this year the Ebonite Spring Classic since it's in spring?).

Engelkes said the tournament again will have more than $5,000 in sponsorship. In addition to Ebonite (which is owned by Brunswick) and the Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau, support also comes USA Mortgage, Kwik Trip, Budweiser/Bud Light, Fran’s Pro Shop, and The Other Place on Ridgeway Avenue.

The field is limited to 204 players and quite possibly will fill. To avoid getting shut out, players should get their $160 entry fee ($135 prize fund, $25 lineage) to Engelkes with their squad request. No checks will be cashed until the Monday prior to the tournament. PayPal also can be used to enter.

Update March 23, 2021: Engelkes reported that there are 13 open spots on the 8:30 a.m. squad and nine spots on the 7 p.m. squad. Squad listings are here.

Mail entries to Engelkes at 1805 Quail Ridge Road, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. He can be reached at jengelkesgiba@gmail.com or 319-260-1356 or 319-269-6909.

There will be a practice session from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 for a cost of $10, with that $10 including a free raffle ticket for prizes. 

The lane pattern typically is a very challenging Sport level pattern. The main parameters of length, volume and ratio are released in the week before the tournament and the pattern will be posted from practice on. I’ll update this story with details when they are released.

Update March 26, 2021: The lane pattern was released at practice and is attached to the bottom of this story as a PDF. The asymmetrical pattern is 37 feet, with 28.355 mL of Infinity oil — 12.735 mL forward and 15.62 mL reverse — left-side ratios of 2.26-1 middle-outside track, 1.34-1 middle-middle track, and 1-1 middle-inside track and right-side ratios of 2.02-1 middle-outside track, 1-1 middle-middle track, and 1-1 middle-inside track.

Qualifying on Saturday is seven games and the squad times have changed slightly to try to get the last two squads running on time: A will be at 8:30 a.m., B at 1:45 p.m. and C at 7 p.m.

The top 64 (based on 204 entries) advance to a 6-game semifinals at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Pins carry over and the top 10 after 13 games making the 10-man modified stepladder with the top four making the stepladder and the remaining six bowling bracket matches to determine the final spot. Seeds 5 and 6 get a bye before facing the winners of matches between seeds 7-10 and 8-9.

Anyone who has bowled one of these tournaments the past few years knows what awesome events they are. To those who haven’t: you are missing a well-run tournament with a strong field and format, challenging condition and great payout.

With 204 entries, there will be 68 cashers, first through fifth will be $3,000, $2,200, $1,600, $1,300 and $1,100, 9th and 10th will be $650, and last cash will be $200.

There also is a guaranteed 1 in 3 cashing ratio for seniors and women. For example, if there are 15 senior entries and three cash in the regular prize fund, two more spots will be paid so there are five total cash spots. The minimum payout will be $160.

And there will be pots and brackets, with half of the bracket proceeds going back into the prize fund. And there is a Bet You Win pot.

Engelkes said there again will be a bonus prize fund for GIBA members who have bowled at least four GIBA tournaments this season. The cost to enter the bonus prize fund will be $20, while members who have bowled three tournaments can enter for $75. The bonus prize fund will feature at least $2000 in added prize money. Qualifying scores will determine the cashers.

The flyer is attached at the end of this story and also is available at the GIBA website and the GIBA Facebook page.

Nate Stubler won the Ebonite Fall Classic in September, Tom Hess won the Ebonite Winter Classic in February 2020, and Dave Beres won the Ebonite Fall Classic in September 2019. Past Fusion winners were Michael Martell in February 2019, Hess in September 2018, Nick Pate in February 2018, Chris Pierson in September 2017, Vince Biondo in February 2017, Casey Murphy in September 2016, Beres in February 2016, Steve Keeler in September 2015, Matt Smith in January 2015, Hess in September 2014, Murphy in February 2014, Jason Poli in September 2013, Nick Heilman in February 2013, Derek Sapp in September 2012, and Matt McNiel in September 2011.