Thanks for the responses thus far; keep them coming.

Urethane, I know they won't put the house pattern out for ABT, but I find that it sometimes helps to know where the normal track has been burned. Sometimes, those are the first areas that begin to open up.
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I've only bowled 300, but I've benched 345 : )
 I provide the muscle for the Fellowship of the Saws  

Gene,
htotheizzo is correct about the lane surface - worn Anvilane, but in reasonably good condition - not like Lombard.

With respect to the oil pattern, first let me say that, although I work in the pro shop part time and as an ABT volunteer, I'm not privy to any specific information about what they will put out for this weekend.

You will not likely see a PBA pattern because there is not enough volume in those patterns to hold up over the number of qualifying squads they have on both Saturday and Sunday.  You will definitely not see the house shot.  What you will see is something flat and tight, as desribed by splendorlex.  It will likely hold up well, and as it opens up, it will probably play very nicely inside.

In past years, players were rewarded for making good shots, and making spares went a long way toward making the cut.  I would not expect anything different this year.
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RW (THB)

Well, I hope everyone else fares better than I did. I bowled both Friday squads rather poorly. There was a shot to be played, it just seemed as if I could never get going. When I threw the ball well, I didn't carry. When I threw the ball poorly, I paid for it. All in all, I just didn't have the consistency needed in order to be successful. Since I don't think -3 is going to offer me much hope, it looks as if I'll be playing in a softball tournament all weekend. Good luck to all who will be going back for more!
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I've only bowled 300, but I've benched 345 : )
 I provide the muscle for the Fellowship of the Saws  

does anyone know who won the tourney in masters and classic? did masters get enough entries for the full $4k?

The $4000 on top for Masters was guaranteed, regardless of entries.  There were 224 Masters entries, with 45 advancing to the semifinals on Monday.

In the Classic division, there were 638 entries, with 120 advancing to the semifinals and ten extra cashers.

In the top 16 match play, Art Gershwiler prevailed to win the $4000 in Masters, and Pete Tagalos won the $5000 first prize in Classic.

Gene,
Regarding the nonsense post by 16 year old donnydeutch, you and I, along with anyone who has ever played in the Grand Boot Hill tournament, held at Hawthorn over Memorial Day weekend, know better.
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RW (THB)

Hi Gene,
I qualified Sunday at +102 and did not bowl well enough Monday to make the finals.

I hope your softball tournament went well.
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RW (THB)