Sisters Karen and Alicia Marcano (pictured left, l-r) averaged 240 on the 39-feet Seoul lane conditioning pattern to lead the first of two squads in Women's Doubles at the World Championships currently underway at Sunset Station's Strike Zone bowling center in Henderson, Nev.

The multiple Pan American Bowling Confederation (PABCON) champions had games of 478, 470, 451, 452, 526 and 503 to lead the field of 52 doubles in this squad with 2880 total. Karen led the way with 1454 (242.33 average) with Alicia close behind at 1426 (237.67).

The Venezuelans needed a big final game as Team USA's Stefanie Nation and Shannon O'Keefe (right, r-l) closed with 475 to finish mere 40 pins behind in second place with 2840 (236.67). O'Keefe, the 207 World Champion in Singles, had the field-best 1498 series (249.67 average) and Nation, the 2009 World Champion in Singles, contributed 1342.

Three-time World Champion Ryu Seo-Yeon, Korea, who won the Singles title two days ago, joined forces with Son Yun-Hee (left, l-r) to land in third place with 2709 (225.75). Two-time European champions Joline Persson Planefors and Rebecka Larsen (right, l-r), who led Squad 1 after three games with 1464, had to settle for fourth place with 2662 (221.83) behind a final 358 game.

The top four duos at the end of the qualifying will advance to the medal round, which is scheduled to start later today at 5 p.m. PDT with the semifinals.

Chinese Taipei spinners Huang Chiung-Yao (left) and Wang Ya-Ting (right), bronze and silver medalists in Women's Singles, respectively, were the first team out in fifth place with 2603 (216.92).

Teams from Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, England and Singapore rounded out the top 10.

Huang and Wang lead Squad 1 bowlers in All-Events (combined qualifying results in Singles, Doubles, Trios and Team) with 2718 (226.50) and 2680 (223.33), respectively. O'Keefe moved into third place with 2665 with Ryu in fourth at 2653 and Alicia Marcano in fifth at 2608.

Squad 2 bowlers including defending champions Shannon Pluhowsky and Liz Johnson (right, r-l), United States, will bowl their six-game qualifying block starting at 3 p.m. PDT. The semifinals and finals are scheduled to start at 6 and 7 p.m. with the award ceremony to follow immediately afterwards.

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The World Tenpin Bowling Association World Championships run from Aug. 16 thru 31, 2013 at Sunset Station's Strike Zone in Henderson, Nev. in the Las Vegas area. The Championships will award medals in six disciplines - Singles, Doubles, Trios, Team, All Events and Masters.

The entire competition will be broadcast live on BOWL.com's BowlTV. Bowling fans will be able to watch live and on demand for free. The schedule is available at BOWL.com/LiveStream.

 

Women's Doubles - Qualifying Squad 1