General

• The New England Bowlers Association shall govern this challenge series

• This challenge series is open to all 2025 NEBA Members

• This challenge series shall not count towards any Bowler of the Year Point categories

• There is no cost to enter this challenge series

• This challenge series will occur throughout twelve (11) NEBA Tournaments during the 2025 season.

Qualifying Events

• Each qualifying event will take the top eight (8) finishers from the hosting singles tournament.

• Top (2) team finishers, (6) bowlers from the hosting trios' tournament.

• Top four (4) team finishers, (8) bowlers from the hosting doubles tournament.

• If any/all bowler(s) from the top eight (8) have already qualified from a previous event, said positions will be deferred to the top bowler(s) in Bowler of the Year points after the conclusion of the Singles event on July 13, 2025, at East Providence Lanes. 

• There will be eight (8) qualifying events:

  • 01/18-19 -  DJ's Pro Shop Open - Bowlero Worcester Lanes - Auburn, MA

  • 02/15 - Trios Team Event - East Providence Lanes, Rumford, RI

  • 02/16 - NEBA Doubles (Baker Finals) - East Providence Lanes - East Providence, RI

  • 03/23 - Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama Singles - Newington, CT

  • 04/27 -  BuddiesProShop.com Open - Nutmeg Bowl - Fairfield, CT

  • 05/18 - Sparetime Open - Northampton, MA

  • 06/22 - RIP Callahan Memorial Open - Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama - Newington, CT

  • 07/13 - East Providence Singles Open - East Providence Lanes - Rumford, RI

Survivor Events

• All bowlers who qualified via the Qualifying Events (up to 62), plus the highest bowlers in Bowler of the Year Points after the final qualifying event, who did not qualify via a qualifying event, will make up the 62 bowler field.

• There will be two (3) survivor events:

  • 08/24 Nutmeg Bowl - Fairfield, CT - 9 AM squad cut from 62 bowlers to top 40 advance to round two.

  • 09/14 Yankee Lanes Singles Open - Yankee Lanes - Manchester, NH - 9 AM squad cut from 40 bowlers to the top 20.

  • 10/12 - Lang's Bowlerama - Cranston, RI - Top 20 bowl for the top four (4) spots for the step ladder finale based on tournament results, not qualifying. 

  • The bowler’s tournament finish will determine the final standings for the challenge during the final survivor tournament.

  • The top 20 finishers during the final survivor event shall cash.

  • 10/25 - 1 pm finale at the Vincent Hall Training Center - Ma. 

• Anyone who qualifies for the survivor event and does not bowl will forfeit their spot, and no alternate will take their place. 

• During the 1st event, the top 40 scores of the 62 bowler field from the 9 am squad, including ties, will advance to the 2nd event.

• During the 2nd event, the top 20 scores of the remaining 40 bowlers from the 9 am squad, including ties, will advance to round 3.

• During the 3rd event, the top 20 bowlers will bowl for the top 4 spots in the finale based on tournament results. 

• If a bowler fails to advance to match play, their highest qualifying score will be used to determine the finish for the challenge series, placing behind any/all bowlers who qualify for match play.

• Any ties will be broken by standard NEBA tie-breaking rules (e.g., score during round eliminated in match play, high qualifying game)

Finale 

• If, in the event, one or more of the top 4 qualifiers cannot make the finale, we will go down the list to fill the final 4. If a bowler cannot participate, they will swap their final standings and cash payout with their replacement. 

Finale Format

• Four bowlers will bowl a three (3) game set on the fresh to determine the top 3 stepladder. 4th place is eliminated.
• Re-oil - 3rd place bowls, 2nd place. Race to win two games.
• The winner bowls the top seed. Race to win two games for the title. 

• The finale will be hosted at the Vincent Hall Training Center

  • 10/25 - 1 PM - Southborough, Ma