Ebonite's sponsorship also enabled the creation of the popular EBONITE ONE-BALL TOURNAMENT in 2009, which will return again in 2010. Several other projects are under consideration and will be announced when plans are finalized.

On behalf of the Junior Bowlers Tour and its bowlers, we thank Ebonite for their support of youth bowling.

K & K Bowling Services is the supplier of JBT/Ebonite bowling shirts and can be reached through the link on the front page of this website. Effective immediately, all bowlers will earn an Entry Credit Point each time they qualify for the step-ladder finals in a regular singles event while wearing a JBT/Ebonite shirt purchased through K&K Bowling Services.

We want to stress this is a bonus that can be earned for EACH step-ladder finals appearance, so the expense of the bowling shirt can be greatly reduced and possibly even eliminated over the course of the season. These are high quality shirts and are very reasonably priced. Some of your fellow bowlers are already wearing their JBT/Ebonite bowling shirts, so check them out!

The Repeater Bracket will be posted at each event before the start of the tournament with the pairings determined by the final standings of the previous event in the conference (#1 bowls #32, #2 bowls #31, etc.). With this as a part of the JBT program, even those bowlers who are struggling in an event will have the goal of reaching the top 32 in the final standings, which would make them a part of the next tournament's Repeater Bracket.

2009-10 SEASON WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER ENTRY CREDIT POINTS

The 35th season of the Junior Bowlers Tour is now underway and a popular addition last season was the introduction of the Entry Credit Points that will be awarded at each singles event throughout the season. These points can be accumulated by each bowler and then exchanged towards the end of the season for a full or partial entry fee payment into four of the JBT's most prestigious events.

The Nerve-Wracker, the JBT Las Vegas Open, the JBT Challenge Tournament and the Buddies Pro Shop Open are among the events with the largest scholarship payouts of the JBT season. Now they will also be among the least expensive (or even FREE) for bowlers who trade in their Entry Credit Points.

Bowlers will earn Entry Credit Points by making the finals and by being the qualifying leader after five games. The new Repeater Bracket will also award ECPs to four bowlers in each division in each singles event. A complete explanation of the Entry Credit Point program and the Repeater Bracket are available on the rules page of this website.

For the second time in three years, Chris Bardol emerged as the champion of one of the most demanding tournaments in the world of junior bowling, winning the 10th Annual Buddies Pro Shop Open at Nutmeg Bowl. Bardol averaged better than 208 for 26 games and went undefeated in seven matches. He defeated 33-time JBT champion Alex Weglarz in the final match to earn the $2,000 top scholarship prize.

Joe Novara led the field after twelve qualifying games with a 2487 total. The only other bowler managing to go plus in the first day was Adam Chase at 2457. Bardol was third at 2358. Thirty-two bowlers advanced to the second day with the final cut at -261, a 178 average. The second day was a two-game total, double-elimination format.

Bardol went through the final day without losing a match, as the field continued to shrink. Weglarz defeated Jody Cravotta in the semi-finals to earn the chance at the title. Bardol took the lead over Weglarz in the first game of their match, 244-178, and although Weglarz fought back to bring the match down to the final frame, Bardol won, 420-411. In the past six seasons, Bardol has won this event twice, finished 4th twice, finished 5th and 13th.

Weglarz earned a $1,200 scholarship for his runner-up finish, Cravotta earned $700 for third, and Kyle Keegan, Clay Adams and Will Phillips each received $400 for 4th through 6th. Twenty-four bowlers shared in the prize fund of more than $7,500.

The scratch finals began with Alex Weglarz winning the first four-person match with a 246, over Billy Bittenbender (203), Greg Ostrander (189) and Steve Pavlinko (168). Travis Celmer won the next match with a 290, topping Will Phillips (232), Weglarz (220) and Diante Fields (206). Celmer then defeated Andrew Stewart 259-184, and followed with a 248-234 victory over Giancarlos Marrero. Top-qualifier Irvin stopped Celmer's run in the final game, 225-213, for his second JBT title and the $2,000 top scholarship prize.

Jack Celmer won the first four-person match in the handicap division. He defeated Allyson Schuster in a two-frame roll-off, 48-40, after they had tied at 236. Matt Perry had a 218 and Eric Schubert a 175. Emily Phillips then edged Steven Hamlin 238-237, Daijon Smith had a 196 and Celmer 190. Phillips then defeated Christian Garrison, 262-252. David Celentano defeated Phillips, 201-186, to advance to the championship game. In the final game, Crutchfield captured his first JBT title with a 253-179 win, earning the $2,000 top scholarship prize. 

Over $24,000 was awarded in scholarships during the event, which included an Early Bird warm-up tournament and two separate side events. Joshua McBride of Wichita rolled a 749 to win the top $500 scholarship prize in the scratch division of the Early Bird Tournament and Jeffrey Suma Jr. of Lake Orion, MI had 738 to win the handicap division and the $300 top scholarship.

The Junior Bowlers Tour will return to the Orleans Bowling Center for the 14th Annual Las Vegas Open August 5-8, 2010. Entry blanks and complete information will be available in November, 2009.

DON'T MISS OUT ON THE VALUE OF JBT MEMBERSHIP

Although participants are not required to become a JBT member in order to enter an event, it's probably a good idea even for the occasional bowler. Members receive a discount for all regular singles events of $3 for prepaid entries. Members also receive a coupon book with over $150 worth of discounts or freebies that can be used throughout the season.

The annual membership fee (September through August) is $25. With proper use of coupons and all available discounts, a bowler can save more than $25 in his/her first two events! This means that all future discounts during the season will be a bonus beyond the cost of membership. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SAVINGS AVAILABLE TO YOU!!!

We have posted a summary of each of the JBT seasons of the past. We will continue to add to the JBT History page until we reach the present. Make sure you check it out -- there are lots of interesting facts from the early days of the JBT to the present.