About NEBA

General

• The New England Bowlers Association (NEBA) shall govern this challenge series.
• This challenge series is open to all 2026 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 take place across eleven (11) NEBA tournaments during the 2026 season.

Qualifying Events

• There will be 62 qualifiers across eight (8) qualifying events (all dates 2026):
  • 01/24 - 1/25:  Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama - Newington, CT - Top 8 Bowlers
  • 02/21: Trios Team Event - East Providence Lanes, Rumford, RI - Top 2 Teams
  • 02/22: NEBA Doubles (Baker Finals) - East Providence Lanes - East Providence, RI - Top 4 Teams
  • 03/22: Sparetime - Northampton, Ma - Top 8 Bowlers
  • 04/26: BuddiesProShop.com Open - Nutmeg Bowl - Fairfield, CT - Top 8 Bowlers
  • 05/31: Westgate Lanes, Brockton, MA - Top 8 Bowlers 
  • 06/13: Over 50/ Under Baker Doubles - Bowlero Cranston, RI - Top 4 Teams
  • 06/14: Singles - Bowlero Cranston, RI - Top 8 Bowlers
• Each qualifying singles event will take the top eight (8) finishers
• The Trios event will take the top (2) team finishers (6 bowlers)
• The Doubles event will take the top four (4) team finishers (8 bowlers)
• If any bowler(s) from the qualifying finishers have already qualified from a previous event, said positions will be filled by the top bowler(s) in Bowler of the Year points after the conclusion of the Cranston, RI Singles Open on June 14, 2025, at Bowlero Cranston. 

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.
• Anyone who qualifies for a survivor event and does not bowl will forfeit their spot, and no alternate will take their place.   For example, if fewer than 62 eligible bowlers bowl in the first survivor event, the top 40 will be selected from those who bowl.  
• There will be three (3) survivor events:
• 07/12: Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama - Newington, CT - 9 AM squad.  The top 40 scores, including ties, from the 9 am squad of the maximum 62 bowlers will advance to the 2nd event.
• 08/23: Lang's Singles Open - Lang's Bowlarama, - Cranston, RI - 9 AM squad. Cut from the top 40 bowlers to the top 20.  The top 20 finishers, after the second survivor event, shall cash.
• 09/13: East Providence Singles - East Providence Lanes, Rumford, RI - The top 20 bowl for the top four (4) spots for the Finale based on tournament results, not qualifying (i.e., the bowler’s tournament finish will determine the final standings for the challenge during the final survivor tournament).  If a top 20 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

• The finale will be hosted at the Vincent Hall Training Center in Southborough, MA, on 10/24/2026, starting at Noon.
• The top 4 finishers at the final survivor event at the East Providence Singles event will qualify for the finale. 
• If, in the event, one or more of the top 4 qualifiers cannot make the finale, we will go down the list of challenge series finishers to fill the top 4.  If a top 4 bowler is replaced, they will swap their final standings and cash payout with their replacement.

Finale Format

• The top four bowlers will bowl a three (3) game set.  The top 3 bowlers advance; the 4th bowler is eliminated.
• The bowler in third place bowls the bowler in second place in a “race to two” format. The second-place bowler has their choice of starting lane.  In the event of a rolloff, the second-place bowler has their choice of starting lane and order.

• The winner bowls the bowler in first place for the title, again in a “race to two” format.  The first-place bowler has their choice of starting lane.  In the event of a rolloff, the first-place bowler has their choice of starting lane and order.