A. Competition
1. The Show Me St. Louis Classic Invitational Tournament is a United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and International Gay Bowling Organization (IGBO) sanctioned handicap tournament and is open to men and women by invitation only. All USBC rules (https://bowl.com/getmedia/cabf49db-8cc5-4ce4-abc0dfca1a1d7706/071724_USBC-Playing-Rules.pdf) and IGBO (https://www.igbo.org/)
rules apply except as noted in rules below.
2. All tournament play will be conducted at Concord Bowl, 11801 Tesson Ferry Road, Saint Louis,
Missouri.
3. Events and Dates
a. Teams - Saturday, August 30, 2025
b. Doubles - Saturday, August 30, 2025
c. Singles - Sunday, August 31, 2025
4. Each event will consist of three (3) games.
5. Competition in each event will be limited to one time.
6. Tournament Management reserves the right to rescind tournament invitation to individual(s) for not reporting all their tournament scores and the name of the league(s) with averages and number of games bowled.
7. The Show Me Saint Louis Classic Invitational Tournament is not a national USBC tournament so there will be no ball restrictions other than (a) the elimination of balance holes instituted by USBC, on August 1, 2020 and (b) bowling balls listed on the Non-Conforming Bowling Ball List
(https://bowl.com/equipment-specifications/non-conforming-bowling-ball-list).
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B. Eligibilty
1. All participants must be USBC and IGBO members.
a. USBC membership is required prior to the start of tournament play. Participants who are not USBC members can qualify by paying the appropriate associate membership dues OR by paying a $5 participation fee (USBC Rule 300c).
b. IGBO membership is required prior to the start of tournament play. Participants who are not IGBO members can apply and pay for their annual IGBO membership dues (Associate Membership: $25 for a calendar year) during the online SMC tournament registration process OR directly through the IGBO membership website (https://membership.igbo.org/).
2. All participants must be of adult age. Transgender participants will compete as their valid ID designates. Tournament Management reserves the right to check identification to verify date of birth and gender.
3. Doubles pairs and Teams may be composed of all men, all women or mixed. Men and women will compete on an equal basis.
4. There shall only be 1 (one) PBA Card member per team.
5. Tournament participants agree to be used in promotional media such as photo postings on social media sites. Participants may opt-out during registration check-in.
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C. Entering Average - The Entering Average used will be based on the following priority:
1. 2024-2025 USBC Standard Composite Average of 21 or more games shown on Bowl.com as of August 10, 2025.
2. 2023-2024 USBC Standard Composite Average of 21 or more games shown on Bowl.com as of August 10, 2025.
3. For bowlers without a 2024-2025 and 2023-2024 USBC Standard Composite Average, the following will apply (in the following order):
a. The highest 2022-2023 league average (minimum 21 games)
b. The highest 2021-2022 league average (minimum 21 games)
4. For bowlers without any USBC Standard Composite Average or league average (minimum 21 games), the Entering Average shall be equal to the highest, verified USBC Standard Composite Average for the Show Me St. Louis Classic Invitational Tournament tournament as of August 10, 2025, not to exceed 230.
5. USBC Rule 319a.2 ("10 Pin Rule") will not apply.
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D. Average Adjustments (Rerating)
1. If a bowler has a current composite Tournament Average (comprised of a minimum of 21 games bowled between September 2, 2024, through August 10, 2025) that is higher than their composite Entering Average (as outlined in Rule C, above), they must use the composite Tournament Average as their Entering Average.
2. If a bowler has a current composite Tournament Average (comprised of 20 games or less bowled between September 2, 2024, through August 10, 2025), the Entering Average will be recalculated with the composite Tournament Average (i.e., # of pins and # of games) with the USBC Standard Composite Average.
3. It is the bowler’s responsibility to report ALL tournament scores that are relevant in calculating their current Tournament Average. Failure to report this information may result in AUTOMATIC disqualification and loss of all prize winnings – subject to Tournament Management discretion.
4. Tournament Management has the authority to adjust the Entering Average of any bowler as set forth under items noted above (i.e., D1 - D3, above) and USBC rules. All average adjustments will be completed prior to the start of the tournament. A bowler unwilling to accept an average adjustment will be unable to participate and will be entitled to a full refund
5. Reporting of previous tournament winnings (USBC Rule 319d) will not apply.
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E. Average Verification
1. It is each bowler’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of their own average, whether originally submitted by the bowler, a team captain, or others. Valid means of verification are:
a. USBC Standard Composite Average (posted on BOWL.COM), or
b. League standing sheet(s), signed, and dated by a League/Tournament Officer, or
c. Signed and dated letter from League/Tournament President or Secretary specifying average, pins, and number of games bowled.
2. Failure to use the correct average may disqualify tournament scores if the submitted average is lower than the correct average, thereby resulting in a lower classification of division or more handicap. Prize winnings will be based on the submitted average if it is higher than the correct average (USBC Rule 319a.3).
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F. Handicap - Handicap (per game) will be 90% of the difference between the bowler's Entering Average and 230. Negative handicaps shall not apply.
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G. Entry Fee - The entry fee is $120 (US) per bowler if postmarked or submitted electronically by August 04, 2025. The entry fee will be $135 (US) per bowler if postmarked or submitted electronically from August 05, 2025, through August 15, 2025. Entry fees can be paid online through the tournament registration website using PayPal or credit card. Alternatively, entry fees can be paid in the form of money order or certified check, made payable to "Show Me Classic", and mailed to: PO Box 190773, St. Louis, MO 63119.
ENTRY FEE DISBURSEMENT
Bowling Fees (linage) $ 27.00
Prize Fund $ 60.00
Banquet $ 25.00
Awards & Tournament Expenses $ 8.00
Total Entry Fees $ 120.00
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H. Awards and Payout Ratio - All award categories will include handicap.
1. Team Event: High Series (Payout ratio 1:8)
2. Doubles Event: High Series (Payout ratio 1:8)
3. Singles Event: High Series (Payout ratio 1:8)
4. All-Events: High 9-Game Series (Payout ratio 1:20)
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I. Protests - All decisions of the tournament director are final unless an appeal is made in accordance with
USBC Rule 329.
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J. Awards Banquet
LOCATION: Orlando Gardens
4300 Hoffmeister Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63125
(314) 638-6660
DATE: Sunday, August 31, 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM (cocktail hour)
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM (banquet)
COST: Included for tournament participants.
$40 per additional guest (non-participant)