Marshall Kent (pictured left) of the United States moved into the top qualifying position in the men's division of the 48th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup after averaging 238.40 in the third qualifying block Wednesday at Sky Bowling Center in Wroclaw, Poland.

The 20-year-old, who became the second-youngest player ever to win an European Bowling Tour title in the Russian Open in September at the age of 19, rolled games of 237, 264, 225, 222 and 244 for 1192 and 3453 total, an average of 230.30 over 15 games.

Kent's series was one of ten 1100-plus series and the third-highest of the day. While the women's qualifying saw a 1200-series each day, the men surpassed the 240-average mark for the first time in the third round of qualifying.

UAE's Hareb Al-Mansoori (left), who had an 1179 series the previous day to rocket from 40th to seventh place, posted a 1236 series to leap another five spots into second place with 3423 (228.20).

Al-Mansoori sandwiched three solid games of 210, 214 and 234 between 298 and 280 to beat out Syafiq Ridhwan (right) by 36 pins for the men's high series.

The Malaysian national team member finished his third block with 265 and 279 for 1200 on the nose to leap from sixth to third place with 3411 (227.40).

PBA champion and long-time Colombian national team member, Andres Gomez rolled five games between 211 and 257 for 1153 and 3381 overall (225.40) to move from fifth to fourth place.

Day one leader Mykhaylo Kalika (left) of Ukraine slipped one spot to fifth place with 3348 (223.20) behind an 1115 including high games of 256 and 243. Falling into sixth place was second round leader James Gruffman (right) of Sweden, who totaled 3343 (222.87) behind a 1053 series Wednesday.

Takashi Taniai, who was in 46th place after the first round and moved to 17th place in the second round, cracked the top 8 thanks to an 1138 series. The Japanese bowler, who started his set with back-to-back 250s, leaped another ten spots into seventh place with 3288 (219.20).

Guy Caminsky of South Africa bowled his way from 34th and then 16th place into eight place with 1135 including high games of 266 and 258 and 3287 overall (219.13).

Just one pin behind was Matt Chamberlain of England, who slipped one spot to ninth place with 3286 despite an 1110 series. Norway's Mads Sandbækken slipped from third to 11th place with 3255 after starting day three with three consecutive sub-par games.

Moving into the top 24 with the help of 1100-plus series were Leonidas Maragkos of Greece (left; 13th; 3213) and Russia's Sergey Andreev (right; 14th; 3201).

Two-time World Cup champion Michael Schmidt (right) of Canada (2005, 2010) is in danger to miss the cut to the top 24 for the first time in seven World Cups (low finish was 13th) after suffering a sub-par 995 series to fall to 20th place with 3156.

Tony O'Hare of Northern Ireland is currently the man "on the bubble" in 24th place with 3139 and an average of 209.27.

The men return on Thursday for the fourth and last qualifying block starting at 3 p.m. (Squad A), 6 p.m. (Squad B) and 9 p.m. (Squad C) local time (CET).

For more photos, go to Bowlingdigital's Photo Album (© Bowlingdigital/Beat Grauwiler).