United States, Colombia win Doubles at 2015 World Seniors Championships

    08/28/15

    2015 WSrC

    2015WSrCPaulaVidadLucySandelin.jpgUnited States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Lucy Sandelin and Paula Vidad (pictured left, r-l) won the gold medal in women's doubles at the 2015 World Seniors Championships, while Colombia's Nicolas Ruiz and Julio Soto took the men's title at Sam's Town Bowling Center in Las Vegas on Thursday.

    In the women's final, Sandelin and Vidad topped Germany's Martina Beckel and Gisela Insinger (right, l-r), 430-417. In the men's title match, Ruiz and Soto recorded an exciting one-pin victory over Canada's John Chapman and Ray Vervynck, 429-428.

    2015WSrCMartinaBeckelGiselaInsinger.jpgThe U.S. women saw Germany take the early advantage, but five consecutive strikes in the middle of the title tilt from Vidad gave the United States the edge as the match headed into the homestretch.

    "When I get pumped up, it helps me throw better shots, and it got us going," said Vidad, who finished the game with 218 as she celebrated her 56th birthday. "We're a great team. I couldn't be happier. This is the best birthday ever."

    2015WSrCPaulaVidadLucySandelin3.jpgSandelin rolled consecutive strikes of her own in the eighth, ninth and 10th as she bested her silver-medal performance in doubles from the 2013 tournament with teammate Tish Johnson.

    "I've had two years to think about coming in second and getting silver," said Sandelin, who added 212 to the winning total.

    "I've been waiting for this day, and really just tried to take it one shot at a time. I even said to myself that this is why I've been practicing every time at home. I've been looking forward to this day for two years, and it's awesome to be standing there with that gold medal around my neck with Paula."

    2015WSrCJillFriisFranceJoubert.jpg2015WSrCTishJohnsonRobinRomeo.jpg Sandelin and Vidad, who led qualifying with a six-game total of 2,419, made the finals with a victory over Canada's France Joubert and Jill Friis (left, r-l), 414-372, in the semifinal match.

    Beckel and Insinger cruised into the finals with a 420-343 win over USBC Hall of Famers Robin Romeo and Tish Johnson (right, r-l). Canada and the United States took home bronze medals.

    2015WSrCNicolasRuizJulioSoto.jpgNeither doubles pair relented in the men's championship game as Canada held a 14-pin advantage entering the final frame. Ruiz (left) delivered three strikes to start the 10th for Colombia, reducing the deficit to three pins as anchors Soto (right) and Vervynck stepped up.

    "I knew how close the match was going to be," said Ruiz, who finished with a 215 game. "I made an adjustment for the last frame and got three strikes."

    2015WSrCulioSoto1589.jpgBoth Soto and Vervynck delivered strikes to start the 10th frame. Soto left the 1-5-8-9 combination on his second offering (pictured left), giving Vervynck the opportunity to get nine or better on his second shot to secure the title.

    2015WSrCRayVervynckJohnChapman.jpgVervynck (pictured left with John Chapman, right) left the 3-9-10 split, giving both players the chance to spare to force a tie. Soto recorded the mark, while Vervynck only was able to knock down the 9 and 10 pins to send the gold to Colombia. Chapman and Vervynck earned silver medals.

    "I knew I had to make the spare," said Soto, who added 214 to the effort. "I needed it, and I made it. I'm very happy."

    2015WSrCLennieBoreschJohnnyPetraglia.jpg2015WSrCRobertChinnerShaunCummings.jpgThe Colombians, who also made the medal round by a single pin to qualify fourth with a combined six-game total of 2,447, defeated USBC Hall of Famers Lennie Boresch Jr. and Johnny Petraglia (left, l-r) in the semifinals to advance to the title match, 391-358. Petraglia and Boresch led qualifying with 2,656.

    Chapman and Vervynck earned their spot in the finals by defeating Australia's Robert Chinner and Shaun Cummings (right, l-r), 434-395. The United States and Australia earned bronze medals.

    Ron Mohr and Bob Learn Jr. of the United States missed advancing to the medal round by just 15 pins, but finished ninth overall with 2,432. Mohr and Hugh Miller teamed for the doubles title at the 2013 tournament.

    2015WSrCLogo.jpg The 2nd World Seniors Championships features more than 200 male and female participants age 50 and older from 33 countries vying for medals in Singles, Doubles, Team, All-Events and Masters competition.

    2014BowlTVLogo_small.jpg Competition continues Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern with men's team qualifying. All rounds of the 2015 event will be broadcast live on BOWL.com's BowlTV.

    Story courtesy of Aaron Smith, USBC Communications. Photos: Aaron Smith and Randy Gulley.

     


    Related Articles


    Kristina Nordenson captures gold in Women's Singles at 2015 World Seniors Championships
    Andrew Frawley starts 2nd World Seniors Championships with victory in Men's Singles
    2015 World Seniors Championships to kick off in Las Vegas
    Preview - 2nd World Seniors Championships for men and women age 50 and over
    WTBA and Sam's Town release Bulletin No. 2 for 2nd World Seniors Championships 2015
    Star-studded U.S. squad selected for World Seniors Championships
    Bulletin No. 1 is out for 2nd World Seniors Championships
    2013 World Seniors Championships

     


    2015 World Senior Championships - Men's Doubles Finals


    2015WSrCMenDoublesPodiumXL.jpgChampionship Round:
    1. Nicolas Ruiz / Julio Soto, Colombia, 820 (2 games)
    2. John Chapman / Ray Vervynck, Canada, 862 (2 games)
    3. Robert Chinner / Shaun Cummings, Australia, 395 (1 game)
    (tie) Lennie Boresch / Johnny Petraglia, United States, 358 (1 game)

    Playoff Results:
    Semifinal Match 1: No. 4 Ruiz (182)/Soto (209) def. No. 1 Boresch (179)/Petraglia (179), 391-358
    Semifinal Match 2: No. 2 Chapman (200)/Vervynck (234) def. No. 3 Chinner (179)/Cummings (216), 434-395
    Championship Match: Ruiz (215)/Soto (214) def. Chapman (185)/Vervynck (243), 429-428.

     


    2015 World Senior Championships - Women's Doubles Finals


    2015WSrCWomenDoublesPodiumXL.jpgChampionship Round:
    1. Paula Vidad / Lucy Sandelin, United States, 844 (2 games)
    2. Martina Beckel / Gisela Insinger, Germany, 837 (2 games)
    3. France Joubert / Jill Friis, Canada, 372 (1 game)
    (tie) Robin Romeo / Tish Johnson, United States, 343 (1 game)

    Playoff Results:
    Semifinal Match 1: No. 1 Vidad (191)/Sandelin (223) def. No. 4 Joubert (206)/Friis (166), 414-372
    Semifinal Match 2: No. 2 Beckel (210)/Insinger (210) def. No. 3 Romeo (150)/Johnson (193), 420-343
    Championship Match: Vidad (218)/Sandelin (212) def. Beckel (248)/Insinger (169), 430-417.

     


    2015 WSrC Men's Doubles - Standings after Qualifying


    Top four advance to the playoffs.

     


    2015 WSrC Women's Doubles - Standings after Qualifying


    Top four advance to the playoffs.

     


    Men's All-Events after 12/18 games


    Top three will earn the medals; top 24 will advance to the Masters finals

     


    Women's All-Events after 12/18 games


    Top three will earn the medals; top 24 will advance to the Masters finals

    Â