Australia's Ann-Maree Putney will try to emulate her compatriot Jeanette Baker Finch and win back-to-back QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup titles when she competes in the 44th edition of the prestigious event from November 7-15 at Bol 300 in Hermosillo, Mexico.

Putney won the women's title last year in St Petersburg, Russia (pictured right with the throphy) and will make her seventh BWC appearance in Mexico.

"We are delighted to have another returning champion in addition to Shannon Pluhowsky from the United States, our champion in 2002 and 2004," commented Anne-Marie Board, QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup Manager. "They are both wonderful champions and I'm looking forward to seeing them compete again."

Bol 300, the venue for the 2008 QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup, opened for business in July, impressing all those present. The magnificent state of the art center has 32 QubicaAMF lanes equipped with the very latest scoring equipment.

It is owned by Fernando Gutierrez, who hosted the event in 1994 and fell in love with the Bowling World Cup. The center will have ample opportunity to be put through its paces before the World Cup as it will host a number of tournaments before then and league play will get under way.

"The local organizers have been working hard to encourage sponsorship and are pleased that Corona, the top selling beer in Mexico and popular in many other countries as well, has given its backing to the tournament." Anne-Marie said. "We are always grateful to our local sponsors as without them the tournament would not be the great event it is, and we are delighted that a brand as big as Corona is backing the event." There are now 93 countries confirmed as entering although not all have yet nominated their players.

Among the new names on the start list, Zara Glover (left) of England stands out. She has won gold medals medals at World and European Championships and is a member of the World Bowling Writers Hall of Fame, but this will be her first Bowling World Cup.

Others of note in the women's event include Laura Rhoney (right) of Scotland, who finished fourth in Caracas, Venezuela, in 2006, and hit a 300 game to take the high game trophy; Ann Louise Haugen, third in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 2005; Germany's Tina Hulsch, who came third last year in St. Petersburg, Russia; and Helen Johnsson of Sweden, who will be making her sixth appearance and has never finished lower than sixth.

Over with the men, Chris Van Damme (left) of Belgium will be competing. Van Damme came third in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2000 and fifth in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, in 2003.

Marin Tranier of New Caledonia will be making his 11th appearance in the event, though the record for appearances is still held by Mohammed Khalifa Al-Qubaisi of the UAE with 14.