Team USA wins gold in Team and All Events at PABCON Women's Championships

10/01/10

United States

The top 16 players from the All Events standings advance to Friday's Masters match play

2010PWCTeamUSA2.jpgThe six Team USA members entered the 2010 Pan American Bowling Confederation Women's Championships with their sights set on the team gold medal, and they accomplished their goal at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas on Thursday.

L-R Liz Johnson, Shannon O'Keefe, Stefanie Nation, Tennelle Milligan, Shannon Pluhowsky and Kelly Kulick.

The Team USA women posted a 6267 six-game total and claimed the coveted title for the 13th time in the 15 years the five-player team event has been part of the PABCON Women's Championships.

After building a significant lead through four games, Team USA stumbled to an 897 total in Game 5, which put Venezuela and Canada just 39 and 61 pins away heading into the final game.

Left-hander Shannon Pluhowsky started the finale with seven consecutive strikes and helped Team USA cruise into the top spot with a 1105 effort. Colombia also finished strong and moved around Venezuela to take the silver medal with a 6090 total. Canada finished third with 6,068.

 

 


"There was never a doubt that we were going to fire back after the fifth game," said Shannon O'Keefe, who paced the team with a 1,283 total. "We all have the talent and confidence in our games and each other to move past something like that and get moving in the right direction. We started the last game off strong, and it was just coasting from there. This is the one that means the most, and we're excited."

2010PWCKellyKulickLizJohnson.jpg2010PWCSandraGongora.jpgLiz Johnson added 1,261 to the winning-effort and was followed by Pluhowsky (1,254), Kelly Kulick (1,226), Stefanie Nation (642) and Tennelle Milligan (601).

The group added two more medals Thursday as Johnson and Kulick (pictured left, r-l) finished first and second in the All Events standings. Johnson earned the gold with a 5241 total for 24 games, while Kulick had 5197. Mexico's Sandra Gongora (right) battled back from a disappointing singles event to claim the bronze with 5190.

"Today was a bit of a grind, but we stuck together as a team and hung in there," Johnson said. "It was a tough four days, but I was pretty consistent. I didn't have anything too low, or real high. The team event was the most important event for us, but to get the All Events gold and trios bronze is special, too. Tomorrow's Masters is just icing on the cake."

With 24 games in the books, the top 16 players from the All Events standings advance to Masters match play Friday beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Round of 16 Match-ups
#1, Liz Johnson, United States vs. #16, Maria Ramirez, Costa Rica
#2, Kelly Kulick, United States vs. #15, Sofia Granda, Guatemala
#3, Sandra Gongora, Mexico vs. #14, Aumi Guerra, Dominican Republic
#4, Caroline Lagrange, Canada vs. #13, Kerrie Ryan-Ciach, Canada
#5, Shannon Pluhowsky, United States vs. #12, Isabelle Rioux, Canada
#6, Felicia Wong, Canada vs. #11, Clara Guerrero, Colombia
#7, Shannon O'Keefe, United States vs. #10, Jennifer Park, Canada
#8, Karen Marcano, Venezuela vs. #9, Jessica Santiago, Puerto Rico

The 2010 PABCON Women's Championships features 60 competitors from 13 countries -Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States, Venezuela - competing for medals in six events - Singles, Doubles, Trios, five-player Team, All Events and Masters.

The United States Bowling Congress will provide live streaming coverage of the Masters on BOWL.com.

 


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Team event - Final standings after six games

 


All Events - Final Standings after 24 games

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