On the Number
Definition:
Keeping score isn't just complicated within a game of bowling. It can get even more confusing when dealing with a large number of bowlers competing in a tournament.
In many bowling tournaments, both professional and amateur, the format requires all entrants to bowl a certain number of games to make up the qualifying rounds. After those rounds, a certain number of bowlers, based on scores, advance to the next round, usually match play (during which bowlers will bowl another set number of games, this time in the form of one-on-one matches with other bowlers).
The rest of the bowlers are eliminated from the competition.
For instance, let's assume a tournament format uses 10 games of qualifying, and the top 24 bowlers will make it to match play. Every bowler who entered the tournament will bowl 10 games. After those 10 games, the bowlers with the 24 best cumulative scores will move on to match play, while everyone else will be finished.
Thus, the minimum goal of every player is to finish 24th (or better, preferably), thereby allowing the player to continue and have a chance at winning the tournament. The player who qualifies in the 24th position does so on the number and is the last person to qualify.
It doesn't really matter, outside of the advantages that may exist in an individual tournament, whether a player qualifies first or last. What matters is qualifying, as anything can happen after that point. However, there will always be a cut, and the person who qualifies just above the cut is the one who did so on the number.
Examples:
To make the cut in the tournament, a player needed to finish within the top 40 after the qualifying rounds.
Bill was in danger of missing the cut, but a late surge and string of strikes helped him finish in 40th place, qualifying on the number.
Keeping score isn't just complicated within a game of bowling. It can get even more confusing when dealing with a large number of bowlers competing in a tournament.
In many bowling tournaments, both professional and amateur, the format requires all entrants to bowl a certain number of games to make up the qualifying rounds. After those rounds, a certain number of bowlers, based on scores, advance to the next round, usually match play (during which bowlers will bowl another set number of games, this time in the form of one-on-one matches with other bowlers).
The rest of the bowlers are eliminated from the competition.
For instance, let's assume a tournament format uses 10 games of qualifying, and the top 24 bowlers will make it to match play. Every bowler who entered the tournament will bowl 10 games. After those 10 games, the bowlers with the 24 best cumulative scores will move on to match play, while everyone else will be finished.
Thus, the minimum goal of every player is to finish 24th (or better, preferably), thereby allowing the player to continue and have a chance at winning the tournament. The player who qualifies in the 24th position does so on the number and is the last person to qualify.
It doesn't really matter, outside of the advantages that may exist in an individual tournament, whether a player qualifies first or last. What matters is qualifying, as anything can happen after that point. However, there will always be a cut, and the person who qualifies just above the cut is the one who did so on the number.
Examples:
To make the cut in the tournament, a player needed to finish within the top 40 after the qualifying rounds.
Bill was in danger of missing the cut, but a late surge and string of strikes helped him finish in 40th place, qualifying on the number.
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