Update World Beaters
Team USA Claims Record Five Golds at World Men’s Championships
IMPROVING UPON their performance two years ago, Team USA dominated at the World Tenpin Bowling Association World (WTBA) Men’s Championships in August, becoming the first country to win five gold med- als at the event. The 2010 WTBA World
Men’s Championships, held at Dream Bowl Palace in Munich, Germany, featured 356 competitors from 65 countries competing for medals in six events — five- player team, trios, doubles, singles, all-events and Masters match play. The tournament is considered the pinnacle of men’s international competition. Two years
ago in Bangkok, Thailand, Team USA nabbed four gold medals. That year, Team USA faced a tough Korean team and the team competition came down to a roll-off after the two countries tied at 1,084. Rhino Page was selected to face off against Korea’s Kim Tae-Young, and the young American star came through in the clutch. This year’s team event
didn’t end in a tie but was no less dramatic. With Page on
34 USBOWLER FALL 2010 Bill O’Neill
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR: Click on the play button (above left) to watch spe- cial video coverage from the World Men’s Championships in Munich, Germany, featuring bowling styles from around the world.
the sidelines after struggling earlier in the week, the rest of Team USA — Chris Barnes, Patrick Allen, Bill O’Neill, Tommy Jones and Wes
Malott — took charge on the lanes. After finishing
first in qualifying with a 6,376 over Finland’s 6,358, the Team USA stars faced Colombia in the semifinals, struggling at the start against before pulling away down the stretch to win 1,048-970. Sixth man Page did not bowl in the semifinals or final for Team USA but still earned a gold medal because he competed in the second round of qualifying.
In the finals, Team
USA faced Finland, which had defeated host country Germany, 996-941, in the other semifinal match. Early in the match, it looked like the American team would run away with title after racking up a near triple-digit lead but Finland, featuring PBA star Mika Koivuniemi and two-handed bowling sensation Osku Palermaa, roared back in the second half. It all came down to the
last frame as the lead changed hands several times. When Jones stepped up in the final frame, he knew he needed to
perform after Palermaa struck on his first shot. Jones deliv- ered a perfect strike, which was followed by Palermaa leaving a 4 pin on his next shot. That took the pres- sure off Jones but he struck anyway as the Americans cel- ebrated their third consecutive team title. “This is what
we come here for Chris Barnes
– to win the team gold medal,” Jones said. “Anything less
than gold leaves a bitter taste. Winning the team title three times in a row is something we are really proud of.” Jones led Team USA with a 249 game and was followed
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