Tournaments

In addition to weekly leagues, youth bowlers have the opportunity to compete in association-sponsored tournaments across bowling centers in the greater Jacksonville area.  These tournaments provide invaluable experience and opportunities for bowlers to challenge themselves, meet bowlers outside of their league, and earn awards/scholarships.

Here is an overview of the tournaments sponsored by the First Coast USBC, Florida State USBC and USBC (national tournaments), with links to all of the details & results:

Local Tournaments:

  • Jacksonville Jr. Bowling Tour (“JJBT”) – A monthly house-shot tournament designed for bowlers with a 110+ average, held on Saturday afternoons. This event is open to bowlers with averages of at least 100 and awards scholarships.
  • North Florida Sport Shot Series (“NFSSS”) – A monthly sport-shot tournament held on Sunday mornings, designed to provide youth bowlers with experience on more challenging lane conditions (in preparation for Junior Gold and collegiate bowling).  SMART scholarships and Junior Gold entries are awarded.
  • Annual Youth City Championship (“City”) – Our local association’s annual youth tournament, held the last weekend in January at 2 bowling centers.  Participants bowl 3 games each (9 total) with a team, a partner and individually (Pee Wee / Bumper division bowls 6 total games).  SMART Scholarships and Junior Gold entries are awarded at the Coaches Memorial Awards Ceremony in March.
  • Christmas Classic – A handicap tournament held the first Sunday in December.  Wrapped gifts are randomly given to competing bowlers, and plaques are awarded based on performance.

Regional/National Tournaments:

  • Florida Youth Scratch & Florida Youth Handicap Tournaments – Two simultaneous state-wide scholarship tournaments held in March-April (for 2026 it will be at Lakeside Lanes in Tavares). In 2025, over $110,000 in SMART scholarships was awarded! Bowlers qualify for the tournament during 2 specific weeks of their league.
  • State Scholarship Tournament (“State”) – The State associations annual tournament, held at 2 different centers in June (for 2025, Lightning Strikes in Fort Myers and Bowlero Cape Coral are the host centers).  Similar to “City”, participants bowl 3 games one day in a team format, then bowl 6 games in doubles/singles. In 2025, over $60,000 in SMART scholarships was awarded!
  • Florida State Youth Leaders Landen Memorial Tournament (“Landen”) – The FL State Youth Leaders run a scholarship tournament each year in either mid-November or mid-January (it is a 2-day tournament). The Landen Tournament for the 2025-2026 season will be held at Saint Lucie Lanes in Port St. Lucie.
  • Youth Open Championships – The largest open tournament for youth bowlers, held in Minneapolis, MN in July 2026. Bowlers can compete in Singles, Doubles, and Team events much like our City Tournament or “State”.
  • National Junior Gold – The nation’s premier youth bowling competition, which uses challenging “sport shot” patterns and all participants must win their entry into the event.  Held in Minneapolis, MN in July 2026.