Three team champions crowned at 34th La Raza Bowling Tournament

    10/10/12

    Costa Rica

    Bowling Dent and Bol Cariari in San José, Costa Rica (Oct. 6-13, 2012)

    2012LaRazaLogo.jpg2012LaRazaTeamNokiaArceRoyFuentesBlanchard.jpgAfter three days of competition featuring twelve team games, Team Nokia with Josh Blanchard, United States, and local bowlers Bernal Fuentes, Erik Roy and Ronald Arce (pictured r-l) claimed the men's four-player team title in the 34th La Raza Bowling Tournament currently underway at Bowling Dent and Bol Cariari in San José, Costa Rica. The foursome finished with 10717 pinfall total and an average of 223.27.

    Pollo Pura Vida with Lucas Legnani of Argentina and locals Vinicio Rivas, Marco Moretti and Juan Carlos García, finished in second place with 10496 (218.67). The team representing Banco Nacional de Costa Rica with Vernon Peterson, United States, and locals Alberto Lizano, Chris Rugama and Óscar Sáenz were mere three pins behind to land in third place with 10493 (218.60).

    2012LaRazaTeamBeirute.jpgLocal Vinicio Rivas of Costa Rica took the lead in All Events with 2877 total and an average of 239.75 for twelve games followed by his compatriots Alberto Lizano (2793) and Diego Rojas (2786) with PBA Rookie of the Year Josh Blanchard in fourth place (2783).

    In the men's senior division, local team Beirute (pictured left) with Jacinto Baltodano, Alex Karpinsky, Marvin Murillo and Mario Valverde (l-r) toppled 10209 pins and averaged 212.69 for a 15-pin victory over Storm with Ed Roberts, Phil Prieto, Rudy Moreno and Paul McCordic with 10194 (212.38) and Mexican team Gorriones with Luis Cuesta, Arturo Rangel, Angel González and Miguel A. Paniagua finishing third with 9949 (207.27).

    2012LaRazaTeamCopaAirlines.jpgSenior bowler Clarence McLean rolled the first 300 game of the tournament and also the very first perfect game at Bol Cariari, which recently opened its door to the public. Mexico's Alfonso "Poncho" Rodríguez led the Senior All Events standings with 2795 and an average of 232.92, with Paul McCordic just eleven pins behind in second place with 2784 (232.00) and local senior star, Mario Valverde, in third place with 2701 (225.08).

    On the women's side Costa Rica's Viviana Delgado and Aumi Guerra of the Dominican Republic (right, l-r) secured the title in the Doubles competition with 5103 pinfall total and an average of 212.63.

    Ana Karen Castanon of Mexico and Yvette Chen of Panama were second with 4965 (206.88) while Milka Vargas and Melissa Quiñones, United States, took the third place with 4821 (200.88).

    2012LaRazaLucySandelin.jpgGuerra, who won the QucicaAMF World Cup in 2010 and 2011, led in Women's All Events with 2586 12-game total and an average of 215.50. Quiñones was just 24 pins behind to sit in second place with 2562 (213.50) with Delgado in third place with 2517 (209.75).

    USBC Hall of Famer Lucy Sandelin (left), United States, took the lead in Women's Senior All Events with 2467 (205.58). Teresa Archundia of Mexico is 107 pins behind in second place with 2360 (196.67) with Carmen Tellado of Puerto Rico in third with 2297 (191.42).

    The 34th La Raza Bowling Tournament continues on Thursday, Oct. 11 with the men's and senior men's Doubles event followed by the Singles event on Friday. Both events feature four games. The women will roll their first four-game block of the Singles event Thursday followed by the second block on Friday. The tournament concludes Saturday, Oct. 13, with an Exhibition Stepladder Final for each division.

    La Raza supported by STORM offers a total prize fund of US $20,000. The lane patterns were designed by KEGEL.