Mexico earns silver and Venezuela gets bronze

Entering the final round trailing by more than 180 pins to Mexico, Team USA stormed back in dramatic fashion to win the men's team event Saturday morning at the 2009 Pan American Bowling Confederation Championships.

L-R Cassidy Schaub, Tommy Jones, David Haynes, Bill O'Neill, Patrick Allen and Chris Barnes. Click on the image to enlarge it.

The United States finished with 6697 and easily pulled away from Mexico in the final three games while also breaking the event record of 6464 set by Team USA in 2007. The Mexicans finished nearly 300 pins behind with 6411. Venezuela took the bronze with 6210 at Carolina Bowling Center.

Bill O'Neill totaled 1456 for six games, including an 804 series Saturday morning, to lead Team USA, and he was joined by David Haynes (1319), Tommy Jones (1268), Chris Barnes (1247), Cassidy Schaub (740) and Patrick Allen (667).

Team USA opened Saturday morning's second block with a 1278 to overcome the deficit they faced after three games and take a lead they would never give back.

"We knew we needed to get out of the gate strong today," O'Neill said. "Three of us struck on six of our first seven shots and that really set the tone for the first game. It was pretty impressive how we all worked and struck together."

Bill O'Neill (pictured right) also dominated the All Events standings as Team USA swept the medals. O'Neill finished the 24 games with 5589, an average of 232.21, and beat out Tommy Jonesby more than 300 pins for the gold medal. Jones took silver with 5287 and David Haynes earned bronze with 5285.

"To come here and bowl with these guys has just been amazing," O'Neill said. "To perform this well in front of these guys and coaches means so much to me."

Barnes finished fourth, Allen was sixth an Schaub was 11th as all six Team USA players advanced to Saturday afternoon's Masters match play, which features the top 16 players in the All Events standings.

2009 PABCON Championships - Men's Team event

 

 

 

Men's All Events - Final standings after 24 games

The top 16 advance to the Masters finals.