For two athletes nearing the end of their tenure as youth bowlers, having the United States Bowling Congress Junior Gold Championships in their hometown is proving to be a unique experience.

Nikki Lewandowski of Buffalo, N.Y., and Charlie Zmozynski of Depew, N.Y., are two veteran Junior Gold competitors, with Lewandowski competing for a record 10th time and Zmozynski for the fifth time. For them, what could be their final Junior Gold is much different than what they've experienced in the past.

"When I was bowling last night, I was able to look back and see the faces of a lot of people in the local bowling community who came out to offer support," said Lewandowski, who totaled 1,194 for six games in her opening qualifying block Monday night. "It's really cool because you have a level of support that you don't have when you are in other cities. Plus, you get to sleep in your bed and you don't get as stressed out because you know where everything is in town."

In all, five bowlers in this year's Junior Gold Championships are from the Buffalo area, and for some of them, being home might feel like an advantage. Zmozynski, however, doesn't feel that way.

"To me, having the tournament in my hometown is more of a distraction than when I've traveled to the tournament," said Zmozynski, who opened with a six-game total of 1,114. "In years past, I've been at the hotel with the other bowlers and you have time to sit down with some of them and discuss what's going on at the centers each day. So staying at home can be a bit of a disadvantage."

The five Buffalo-area bowlers are joined by more than 1,500 of the top youth bowlers in the country who are competing in the Junior Gold Championships, which are being conducted at three bowling centers this week. The athletes are battling for $100,000 in scholarships and the title of U.S. Junior Amateur champion.

Qualifying competition for the boys and girls divisions consists of three six-game blocks over four days continuing through Thursday. After 18 games, the top 96 males and 48 females (including all ties) will advance to the semifinals

The semifinalists bowl six additional games on Friday to determine the top 32 males and top 32 females who compete in the finals. The remaining bowlers compete in six final games with the top male and top female declared U.S. Junior Amateur champions.

The top five finishers who are U.S. citizens in the boys and girls divisions will earn automatic spots on Junior Team USA, serving as United States representatives in international competition in 2008. The National Selection Committee will choose six additional Junior Gold competitors, three males and three females, to round out the 2008 team.