After more than two days of competition at the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Junior Gold Championships, there's little doubt which of the three bowling centers is challenging athletes the most.

AMF Airport Lanes has emerged as the most difficult of the three centers, each with different PBA Experience lane conditions. Many factors play into why AMF Airport is playing the toughest, including the lane conditions, lane surface and even the construction of the bowling center.

Chris Bolosan of Newport News, Va., who won the U.S. Junior Amateur title in 2005, opened with his first block Monday at Transit Lanes, the highest scoring of the three centers, and was near the top of the standings with 1,354, an average of 225.67 per game. In his second qualifying block Wednesday at AMF Airport, Bolosan totaled 1,151, an average of 191.83.

"The lane conditions make things tough," Bolosan said after finishing his block at AMF Airport. "You have people attacking this pattern all over the place, so it's really hard to follow how the lanes transition. If you can't find a way to strike, you just have to keep making spares."

Another factor in scoring at AMF Airport is the construction of the 66-lane bowling center. There are five different bays, some of which were added on after initial construction and have lane surfaces of varying ages. In addition, the wood lane surface was recently resurfaced across the house.

"The fresh lane conditions have been pretty difficult here because the lanes were recently resurfaced and the urethane coating on the lanes is new," said USBC Lane Technician Eric Pierson, who helped develop the lane conditions being used this week. "The ball reaction is harder to control because of the fresh surface, which causes more friction in the back part of the lanes."

Bolosan, who is competing in his seventh Junior Gold, said there is always at least one center that plays tougher than the rest. This year, it's AMF Airport, which will host the semifinals and finals on Friday.

"I think it gives everybody a chance to test their skills, and we will really see who can bowl on what is probably the toughest pattern around here," Bolosan said. "I did the job I wanted to do today. I wanted to average above 180 every game and with one exception, I did that."

After all players completed six games, only 12 who competed at AMF Airport were among the top 100 while 66 were from Transit Lanes and the remaining 22 bowled at AMF Thruway Lanes. However, all athletes bowl one six-game qualifying block at each center.

More than 1,500 of the top youth bowlers in the country 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.

*** Jon Buckert of Rochester, N.Y., leads the boys after 12 games with 2,601, an average of 216.75. Buckert totaled 1,286 at AMF Thruway Lanes and 1,315 at Transit Lanes and will complete his final block at the tough AMF Airport Lanes. Dean Richards of Tacoma, Wash., trails Buckert by 15 pins while defending champion Matt O'Grady of South Amboy, N.J., is seventh at 2,512.

*** Michelle Carcagente of Palm Coast, Fla., leads the field of girls with 2,524, an average of 210.33 for 12 games. She totaled 1,292 at AMF Thruway and 1,232 at AMF Airport. Current Junior Team USA member Jenny Brown of Deland, Fla., is a close second, just three pins back.