Hernandez continues to lead men's division; Colombians Restrepo, Vargas 1-2 in women's division

02/04/07

American Zone Ranking Final

Punta Cana Lanes in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (Feb. 1-5, 2007)

Arturo_Hernandez_3967.jpg Arturo Hernandez from Venezuela rolled the second-highest 1841-series on long oil to maintain his lead in the men's division with 3589 and an average of 224.31 over 16 games. On the women's side, Colombia's Rocio Restrepo posted the highest block on long oil with 1768 to leap two spots into the lead with 3393, and an average of 212.06. Her teammate, World Ranking Masters champion Sara Vargas, remained in second with 3287.

Hernandez averaged 230.13 for the day including a high game of 256 and a low game of 204. Luis Rodriguez from Puerto Rico was the top scorer with 1891, a 236.38 average, featuring high games of 277, 258 and 256 en route to leap from 13th place to second with 3378 (216.63). The duo outaveraged the rest of the field by 20 pins and more.

Canadian Mark Buffa slipped one spot to third with 3378, with Frankie Colon, Puerto Rico in fourth (3334) and David Romero, Colombia, in fifth (3332). Rounding out the top 8 before the final block are Jaime Monroy, Colombia (3209), Marcio Vieira, Brazil (3188) and Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela (3176).

Restrepo finished her eight games on long oil with 759 for the last three games (268, 256 and 235) and averaged 221.00 for the day. Restrepo holds a comfortable 106-pin lead over Sara Vargas, who had high games of 269 and 246 on Friday.

Their team mate Paola Gomez had a very slow start into the day with 160 and 149. Gomez must have found something as she closed out the series with 233, 222, 244, 226, 280 and 238 for 1752, the second-highest block of the day.

Gomez moved from seventh to fourth place with 3277 pinfall total, mere nine pins behind Canadian Caroline Lagrange, who is third with 3286. Rounding out the top 8 were Patricia Ciotti (3267) and Karen Marcano (3120), both of Venezuela, Aumi Guerra, Dominican Republic (3073) and Lynne Gauthier, Canada (3064).

Alicia Marcano, Venezuela, who led the field after day one on short oil with 1648, a 206.00 average, had a disastrous day on the long pattern. Marcano had eight consecutive sub-200 games on long oil including a low game of 153 and slipped all the way out of the top 8 to ninth with 3062 pinfall total and an average of 191.38.

61 competitors (28 men and 29 women, who are among the top bowlers from the North, Caribbean, Central and South regions of the zone as well as two men and two women selected by the host country, Dominican Republic) will determine the 8 women and 8 men who will be eligible to represent the American Zone in the World Ranking Masters in Doha, Qatar (April 30 - May 6).

All players will bowl three blocks of eight games on short, long and short/long oil in a 3-day competition. Play continues on February 3rd with the third and final 8-game block. The lane dressing pattern will be one lane of long oil and one lane of short oil. The top 14 men and women will bowl at 8 a.m. tomorrow and the rest of the field will take the lames at noon.


Men's Division - Standings after Round 2

16-game total, Block 1 on short, Block 2 on long oil.




Women's Division - Standings after Round 2

16-game total, Block 1 on short, Block 2 on long oil.




Men's Division - Round 2 Results

8 games on long oil




Women's Division - Round 2 Results

8 games on long oil