Team USA smashes two records at Men's American Zone Championships
05/31/07
Newcomers Janawicz, O'Sullivan and Eoff stay hot to run away with the trios gold medal
Not even a major lane breakdown Wednesday morning could prevent two records from falling at the hands of (l-r) Team USA's John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., David O'Sullivan of Orlando, Fla., and Derek Eoff of Greenfield, Wis., in winning the trios gold medal at the 2007 Men's American Zone Championships.
The trio, all of whom are competing in their first international tournament as Team USA members, continued their stellar performance with 3,995 over six games to give the United States three gold medals in three events at the tournament.
For Eoff, the victory secured his third medal of the tournament to go along with the doubles gold he won with O'Sullivan on Tuesday and the singles bronze. It also was the second gold for Janawicz, who won Monday's singles event.
"I couldn't have imagined coming here and doing this well on my first try," said Eoff, who increased his all-events total to 3,997 - leading second-place O'Sullivan by 53 pins with six games remaining. "The coaches have been good enough to line me up and get the right ball in my hand. I've been able to make good shots and the pins have been falling for me. It's just a great feeling."
Showing the composure you would expect from international competition veterans, Janawicz, O'Sullivan and Eoff weren't fazed by the early lane maintenance issues on lanes 21 and 22 at Metro Bowl. They posted an overwhelming three-game trios record of 2,158 on the short oil pattern (239.38 average per player per game) to take a commanding lead.
John Janawicz (left), Derek Eoff (center) and David O'Sullivan (back right) celebrate their record-breaking series Wednesday morning with Team USA head coach Jeri Edwards.
"The big key was trying to keep the ball in play," said Janawicz, who shot 730 in the morning session and 1,310 overall. "When you miss, you wanted to avoid getting 6 or 7 - just trying to get the right ball reaction, the right surface and your feet in the right spot. The lanes are pretty tough when they're fresh. Once they open up a little bit, then you have more room."
The previous three-game record of 2,080 was held by Mexico's Daniel Falconi, Benjamin Corona and Alejandro Cruz, who set the mark in winning the gold medal at the 2005 American Zone Championships in Costa Rica.
Team USA's first game was suspended until after they completed Games 2 and 3. They picked up their first game, along with a Costa Rican team, in the fourth frame on lanes 25 and 26 after the remaining teams on their squad completed their session.
It turned out to be another record-breaker as O'Sullivan's 290 and Janawicz's 279 powered the trio to 779, breaking the 763 mark set by Team USA's Mark Lewis, Ron Mohr and Harry Mickelson in 1989.
"We just tried to play the cards we were dealt," said O'Sullivan, who had 720 in the morning and 1,366 overall. "If we sit there and dwell on it and say 'Poor us,' we're not going to bowl well. We just had to keep an open mind and go where the lane tells you to go.
"It's huge to post a big score like that. The condition is not easy at all, which made today all the more fun."
In their first complete game (Game 2) after a 30-minute delay, Eoff fired a 299 - just missing the perfect game after going a little light on his final shot and leaving the 4 pin. Combined with O'Sullivan's 234 and Janawicz's 223, they finished with a 756 game - good for third-best in American Zone Championships history.
"I just kind of rolled with the punches and didn't let the delay bother me," said Eoff, who had 1,319 on Wednesday. "I had a good reaction, so as long as I made good shots I would post a good score. I stayed loose and tried to not let it bother me."
No other team came close to threatening Team USA's lead throughout the day, even after they fell off their frantic pace with 1,834 in the three-game evening session on the long oil pattern. Brazil finished with the silver medal at 3,736 while Mexico took the bronze with 3,728.
Competition continues at 9 a.m. local time Thursday (11 a.m. EDT) with the six-game team event.
The Men's American Zone Championships, which will conclude Friday, features 18 countries and consists of six disciplines (singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and Masters). The event is in Guatemala for the first time since 1966.
Beginning in 2007, the American Zone Championships moved from a quadrennial event featuring both men and women to a biennial event, with separate Women's American Zone Championships and Men's American Zone Championships alternating each year. The first Women's American Zone Championships is scheduled to be held in Chile in 2008.
Guatemala
Newcomers Janawicz, O'Sullivan and Eoff stay hot to run away with the trios gold medal
By Kevin Hazaert
Not even a major lane breakdown Wednesday morning could prevent two records from falling at the hands of (l-r) Team USA's John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., David O'Sullivan of Orlando, Fla., and Derek Eoff of Greenfield, Wis., in winning the trios gold medal at the 2007 Men's American Zone Championships.
The trio, all of whom are competing in their first international tournament as Team USA members, continued their stellar performance with 3,995 over six games to give the United States three gold medals in three events at the tournament.
For Eoff, the victory secured his third medal of the tournament to go along with the doubles gold he won with O'Sullivan on Tuesday and the singles bronze. It also was the second gold for Janawicz, who won Monday's singles event.
"I couldn't have imagined coming here and doing this well on my first try," said Eoff, who increased his all-events total to 3,997 - leading second-place O'Sullivan by 53 pins with six games remaining. "The coaches have been good enough to line me up and get the right ball in my hand. I've been able to make good shots and the pins have been falling for me. It's just a great feeling."
Showing the composure you would expect from international competition veterans, Janawicz, O'Sullivan and Eoff weren't fazed by the early lane maintenance issues on lanes 21 and 22 at Metro Bowl. They posted an overwhelming three-game trios record of 2,158 on the short oil pattern (239.38 average per player per game) to take a commanding lead.John Janawicz (left), Derek Eoff (center) and David O'Sullivan (back right) celebrate their record-breaking series Wednesday morning with Team USA head coach Jeri Edwards.
"The big key was trying to keep the ball in play," said Janawicz, who shot 730 in the morning session and 1,310 overall. "When you miss, you wanted to avoid getting 6 or 7 - just trying to get the right ball reaction, the right surface and your feet in the right spot. The lanes are pretty tough when they're fresh. Once they open up a little bit, then you have more room."
The previous three-game record of 2,080 was held by Mexico's Daniel Falconi, Benjamin Corona and Alejandro Cruz, who set the mark in winning the gold medal at the 2005 American Zone Championships in Costa Rica.
Team USA's first game was suspended until after they completed Games 2 and 3. They picked up their first game, along with a Costa Rican team, in the fourth frame on lanes 25 and 26 after the remaining teams on their squad completed their session.
It turned out to be another record-breaker as O'Sullivan's 290 and Janawicz's 279 powered the trio to 779, breaking the 763 mark set by Team USA's Mark Lewis, Ron Mohr and Harry Mickelson in 1989.
"We just tried to play the cards we were dealt," said O'Sullivan, who had 720 in the morning and 1,366 overall. "If we sit there and dwell on it and say 'Poor us,' we're not going to bowl well. We just had to keep an open mind and go where the lane tells you to go.
"It's huge to post a big score like that. The condition is not easy at all, which made today all the more fun."
In their first complete game (Game 2) after a 30-minute delay, Eoff fired a 299 - just missing the perfect game after going a little light on his final shot and leaving the 4 pin. Combined with O'Sullivan's 234 and Janawicz's 223, they finished with a 756 game - good for third-best in American Zone Championships history.
"I just kind of rolled with the punches and didn't let the delay bother me," said Eoff, who had 1,319 on Wednesday. "I had a good reaction, so as long as I made good shots I would post a good score. I stayed loose and tried to not let it bother me."
No other team came close to threatening Team USA's lead throughout the day, even after they fell off their frantic pace with 1,834 in the three-game evening session on the long oil pattern. Brazil finished with the silver medal at 3,736 while Mexico took the bronze with 3,728.
Competition continues at 9 a.m. local time Thursday (11 a.m. EDT) with the six-game team event.
The Men's American Zone Championships, which will conclude Friday, features 18 countries and consists of six disciplines (singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and Masters). The event is in Guatemala for the first time since 1966.
Beginning in 2007, the American Zone Championships moved from a quadrennial event featuring both men and women to a biennial event, with separate Women's American Zone Championships and Men's American Zone Championships alternating each year. The first Women's American Zone Championships is scheduled to be held in Chile in 2008.