2005 Costa Rica

The Team USA women capped off an impressive finish to the American Zone Championships on Tuesday by capturing all three medals in the Masters finals. Diandra Asbaty of the United States successfully defended her title when she defeated Jennifer Petrick, 378-370, in the women's Masters finals of the 14th American Zone Championship at Metrobowl in San José, Costa Rica. The stepladder final was an all-American affair as reigning World Youth Masters champion Petrick topped Lynda Barnes in the opening match, 244-238.

Daniel Falconi of Mexico finished the men's Masters finals in the 14th American Zone Championship with 11 consecutive strikes to defeat tournament leader Rhino Page, USA, 503-413, en route to win the coveted Masters title and his third gold medal of the championships. The Mexican has also won gold in Doubles and Trios. Page took the silver medal and Canadian Ty Rose, who lost to Falconi in the opening match 164-153, earned the bronze medal.

Lynda Barnes started the second day of the women's Team competition in the 14th American Zone Championship mere one pin ahead of team mate Diandra Asbaty with whom she has won the Doubles title four days ago. Three games later, the 37-year-old former PWBA champion and reigning U.S. National Amateur champion had won two more gold medals in Team and All Events. Asbaty took silver, while Singles champion Isabelle Rioux, Canada, got the bronze.

Andrew Cain of the United States rolled a 623 three-game series on the second day of the Team event, the eighth day of competition, to secure the gold medal in All Events in the 14th American Zone Championship at Metrobowl in San José, Costa Rica. Arturo Hernandez from Venezuela secured the silver medal, while Mexican Benjamin Corona earned the bronze medal.

A day after setting setting the 3-game American Zone Championship record with 3250, the Team USA women Lisa Noor, Jen Petrick, Shannon Pluhowsky, Lynda Barnes and Diandra Asbaty cruised to victory in the 5-player Team event with record 6277 pins, an average of 209,23. Mexico took the silver medal and Canada earned bronze, mere one pin ahead of Puerto Rico. Barnes won gold in All Events, Asbaty was second and Isabelle Rioux, Canada, third.

For the fourth consecutive time Team USA swept the gold medals in the five-player team event at American Zone Championships. While the women's team won in record-setting fashion, the men's team with Erik Vermilyea, Andrew Cain, Derek Sapp, Rhino Page and David Haynes scored a dramatic come-from-behind victory to win the title with 6239. Venezuela took silver with 6195 and Mexico rallied to win bronze with 6056. Singles champion Cain won gold in All Events, his third gold medal of the championships.

Alicia Marcano threw three perfect strikes in the final frame as she, her sister Karen and Mariela Alarza rallied to top Canada and win gold for Venezuela in the Women Trios at the American Zone Championships in San José, Costa Rica. Canada earned the silver medal while Mexico took the bronze. Singles champion Isabelle Rioux regained the lead in All Events with 3730.

A day after setting the three-game trios record, Mexico cruised to the gold medal at the American Zone Championships. L-R Daniel Falconi, Alejandro Cruz and Benjamin Corona totaled 3804, an average of 211,33, to easily win the title in the Men Trios by over 100 pins. Host country Costa Rica took silver with 3695 and Mexico's other team was third with 3671.

L-R The United States pairing of Diandra Asbaty and Lynda Barnes withstood a furious charge by Canadian's Isabelle Rioux and Kerrie Ryan-Ciach to win gold in doubles Thursday. Barnes and Asbaty stayed clean in the final frame, however, to secure the top medal with a score of 2489. Canada finished with 2471 and won silver while the Marcano sisters from Venezuela took bronze with 2423.

L-R Alejandro Cruz and Daniel Falconi of Mexico won gold in men's doubles Thursday with 2612 6-game total holding off a late charge by the United States. Cruz threw three clutch strikes in the final frame to put away any hopes of a gold for Team USA's Steve Weber and Erik Vermilyea, who won silver with 2578. Their team mates David Haynes and Derek Sapp took bronze with 2541.

Isabelle Rioux claimed the first gold medal in the 14th American Zone Championship at Metrobowl in San José, Costa Rica. The Canadian bowled nearly identical 3-game series (639 and 641) to win the Women Singles with 1280 pinfall total and an average of 213,33. Team USA Lynda Barnes and Diandra Asbaty took silver and bronze with 1267 and 1266, respectively.

Andrew Cain of the United States cut through the Men Singles competition at the American Zone Championships like a buzzsaw, winning gold by a wide margin Tuesday. Cain easily won gold by 78 pins with 1344 six-game total and an average of 224. Rafael Medina of Venezuela took silver with 1266 and Mario Valverde of Costa Rica took bronze with 1,262.

El Salvador's Jose Guandique (pictured) was elected president of the American Zone during the congress held prior to the 14th American Zone Championship in San José, Costa Rica. Guandique replaces long-time president Alberto Ferrer of Colombia, who retired after 24 years as American Zone president. Guandique was sworn in along with the other presidium members during opening ceremonies of the American Zone Championships.

The 14th American Zone Championships officially got underway on Sunday night as nearly 20 countries and over 200 athletes took part in opening ceremonies. World Tenpin Bowling Association President Heikki Sarso threw out the ceremonial first ball to kick things off (pictured).