Barnes says Team USA is prepared for World Championships

After a week of competing against a strong field on tough lane conditions at the U.S. Women's Open, Team USA veteran Lynda Barnes feels the United States is as prepared as it ever has been heading into the World Tenpin Bowling Association Women's World Championships.

All six bowlers who will represent Team USA in Monterrey, Mexico, at the World Championships beginning Sept. 1 competed in the U.S. Women's Open last week in Reno, Nev., and all finished among the top 25.

"The goal going into the U.S. Women's Open was obviously to do well in that event, but there was an added benefit of having that tournament just before the World Championships," said Barnes, of Double Oak, Texas. "All six of us were able to get sharp and focused. Now our job is to continue that for the next two weeks in advance of Mexico."

Barnes, a 10-time Team USA member and reigning U.S. Amateur champion, will be joined at the World Championships by Diandra Asbaty of Chicago; Tennelle Milligan of Costa Mesa, Calif. (l-r); Stefanie Nation of Orlando, Fla.; Shannon O'Keefe of Rochester, N.Y.; and Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix.

Four of the six - Barnes, O'Keefe (left), Pluhowsky and Nation - advanced to the ESPN-televised quarterfinals at the U.S. Women's Open.

"Our team is strong, prepared and our depth is amazing," said Barnes, who has competed in the World Championships three times. "We really have a lot of depth. Five of us competed together in the last World Championships and Tennelle adds even more strength."

At the most recent Women's World Championships in 2005 in Aalborg, Denmark, Team USA fell just short of its ultimate goal of winning the five-player team event gold medal. Chinese Taipei edged the Americans by 12 pins to keep them from their first gold medal in the event since 1987.

"The goal on every team I've been on is to win that gold medal," Barnes said. "It's not just a goal for me; it's a goal for everyone who has ever been on Team USA in the past. Winning the team gold medal would be the ultimate accomplishment and would cap off my career."

Team USA also will be looking to win gold medals in doubles, trios and all-events for the first time in two decades. The most recent gold medal for Team USA at the Women's World Championships came in 2003 when Asbaty won the Masters.

At the 2005 World Championships, Team USA came away with medals in four of the six events. In addition to the silver medal in team, Barnes won silver in all-events, bronze in Masters and teamed with Pluhowsky (pictured left) for bronze in doubles.

The Women's World Championships will feature more than 200 athletes from 54 countries competing in six disciplines - doubles, trios, team, singles, all-events and Masters.