Shannon Pluhowsky, Kelly Kulick claim Doubles gold at PABCON Women's Championships

    09/29/10

    United States

    Silver for United States and bronze for Canada

    2010PWCKellyKulickShannonPluhowsky.jpg2010PWCLogo.jpgAfter a frustrating Singles performance at the 2010 Pan American Bowling Confederation Women's Championships, Team USA's Shannon Pluhowsky (right) was able to regroup and join Singles bronze medalist Kelly Kulick (left)  in a record Doubles effort Tuesday.

    The accomplished left-hander shot 1400 for her six games, while Kulick contributed 1380 to claim the gold medal with a 2780 total at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas.

    The previous record was 2621 by Guatemala's Zussie de Machon and Sofia Granda at the 2009 PABCON Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

    2010PWCTennelleMilliganShannonOKeefe.jpg2010PWCCarolineLagrangeIsabelleRioux.jpgPluhowsky and Kulick led by more than 100 pins after three games and battled through a tricky transition and a few ball changes to increase the margin of victory to 215 pins over their teammates, Shannon O'Keefe and Tennelle Milligan (left photo, r-l), who grabbed the silver medal with a 2565 total.

    Canada's Caroline Lagrange and Isabelle Rioux (on the right, l-r) were just three pins behind to take home the bronze with 2562.

    "I got off to a good start today, and the pairs seemed to play more evenly from pair to pair and lane to lane," said Pluhowsky, who finished 30th in Singles with a 1183 total Monday. "It was a different day and a different pattern, so I really couldn't dwell on what happened yesterday.

    "Since we'll see the patterns again this week, all I can do is learn from each day and hope to get some more pins the next time. The more games you bowl, the more comfortable you get, and I'm happy with how today turned out."

     

     


    Kulick got off to a slow start with a 182 game Tuesday morning but averaged 239.6 for the remaining five games. Her performance also helped her into the All Events lead with 2747 after 12 games. Team USA's Liz Johnson is second with 2678, while O'Keefe is third with 2648. Felicia Wong, Canada, is fourth with 2604. Canada has five players among the top 10 in All Events and the United States four. Rounding out the top 10 is Singles silver medalist Alicia Marcano, Venezuela.

    "It's taking me a little bit longer to read the lanes in practice, and I've been slow out of the gate," said Kulick, who claimed the sixth gold medal of her PABCON Women's Championships career.

    "Shannon bowled great today from the start, and having a partner who's bowling well helps get your swing a little bit looser. Today, it was a new pattern and a new outlook, and I'm pleased with how everything came together for us."

    The 2010 PABCON Women's Championships features 60 competitors from 13 countries -Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States, Venezuela - competing for medals in six events - Singles, Doubles, Trios, five-player Team, All Events and Masters.

    The bowlers will return to the lanes for six games of Trios Wednesday beginning at noon Eastern. The United States Bowling Congress will provide wire-to-wire live streaming coverage of the event on BOWL.com.

    PABCON Championships Live Streaming Schedule
    (Subject to change; all times Eastern)

    Sept. 29, noon, Trios
    Sept. 30, noon, Team
    Oct. 1, noon, Masters

     


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    Doubles - Final standings after six games

    Individual High Games/High Series:
    1 Game - Caroline Lagrange, Canada, 277
    3 Games - Shannon Pluhowsky, United States, 732
    6 Games - Shannon Pluhowsky, United States, 1400

    Team High Games/High Series:
    1 Game - Shannon Pluhowsky/Kelly Kulick, United States, 505
    3 Games - Shannon Pluhowsky/Kelly Kulick, United States, 1404
    6 Games - Shannon Pluhowsky/Kelly Kulick, United States, 2780

     


    All Events - Standings after 12 of 24 games

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