Bator, Gomez take Under-20 Singles Gold at PABCON Youth Championships

    07/07/09

    2009 PABCON Youth

    Franco, Morales win the titles in the Under-16 Divisions

    2009PYCLogo.jpg2009PYCChristineBator.jpgJunior Team USA's Christine Bator (pictured right) of Warren, Mich., held on to win the singles gold medal Monday night in the Under-20 division at the 2009 Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championships.

    Bator, who competed on the first of two squads, totaled 1,346 for six games, an average of 224.33, at Salitre Bowling Center. She sat and watched as Colombia's Laura Fonnegra nearly passed her. Instead, the Colombian, who bowls collegiately at Lindenwood, settled for the silver medal, five pins back.

    Fonnegra needed two strikes in the final frame to edge Bator but left a 10 pin on the first shot and closed with a 197 game. Fonnegra didn't miss a spare the last game but was unable to throw two consecutive strikes.

    "I was so nervous that I was shaking in my flip flops," Bator said. "Laura threw the ball great the last game, and I feel fortunate to have held on to win the gold medal." Bator, who finished second in singles to teammate Josie Earnest at last year's PABCON Youth Championships, put together six consistent games en route to the victory. She had games of 236, 223, 220, 219, 226 and 222.

    "The big thing was I made my spares today," Bator said. "If it wasn't for my high spare percentage, I wouldn't have even been close. I only had three opens and two of them were splits."

    Junior Team USA newcomer Jenn Boisselle of Brandon, Fla., took the bronze medal as she threw three strikes in the final frame to finish with 1,287. Boiselle edged Colombia's Maria Jose Rodriguez by 22 pins.

    2009PYCJuanGomez.jpgOn the boys side, Colombia's Juan Gomez (pictured left) beat out Junior Team USA's Jake Peters of Decatur, Ill., by 42 pins to win the gold medal with 1,401 pinfall total and an average of 233.50.

    Trailing Peters by 41 pins after four games (911 to 952), Gomez closed out his series with 258 and 268 to claim the gold medal. Peters, who had five games between 213 and 268 and a low game of 193 in the sixth, had to settle for the silver medal with 1,359 and an average of 226.50.

    El Salvador's Rudy Quintanilla beat out Venezuelans Kevin Belandria and Michael Piccari for the bronze medal with 1,332 (222.00) to 1,321 and 1,298.

    The gold medals in the Under-16 divisions went to Guatemala and again to the host country. Jose Morales, Guatemala, was the sole player, who cracked the 1000-bar over five games, en route to win the boys title with 1002 or an average of 200.40. His compatriot Juan Castillo took the silver medal with 958 with Franco Gualini, Argentina, in third at 950.

    Juliana Franco, Colombia, used high games of 235 and 243 to easily win the girls title with 989 or an average of 197.80. Franco outaveraged her nearest competitor, silver medalist Kristie Lopez (913), Puerto Rico, by more than 15 pins. Bronze went to Kamilah Dammers, Aruba, with 842.

     


    U-20 Boys Singles - Final Standings after 6 Games

     


    U-20 Girls Singles - Final Standings after 6 Games

     


    U-16 Boys Singles - Final Standings after 5 Games

     


    U-16 Girls Singles - Final Standings after 5 Games

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