Kent used a second-place performance in Thursday’s final qualifying round at Gold Coast Hotel and Casino in Las vegtas to win his second Team USA Trials title with a total of 38 ranking points, and McEwan captured her third win at the event with 24 points after an eighth-place finish in the final round.

Kent and McEwan earned spots on Team USA for the fifth consecutive year and also will have the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2016 QubicaAMF World Cup in Shanghai, China, in October.

“I have been so close the last few years in having a chance to go back to the World Cup and fell just short,” said Kent, who finished second at the 2012 World Cup in Wroclaw, Poland.

“To be able to come through this week means the world to me. I’ve had a bitter taste in my mouth from my last World Cup appearance, and I have been wanting the chance to redeem myself, so now I’ll have that opportunity. That’s been a goal for the past few years.”

Also earning automatic spots on Team USA 2016 based on their overall performances at the Team USA Trials were Via, Kamron Doyle of Brentwood, Tennessee, Andrew Cain of Phoenix, and AJ Chapman of Manchester, Iowa.

Rob Gotchall of Clarksville, Tennessee, Ronnie Russell of Marion, Indiana, and John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Florida, were selected by the National Selection Committee based on their performances this week.

Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, South Carolina, Sean Rash of Montgomery, Illinois, and John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, New York, were selected by the National Selection Committee based on submitted resumes.

“This week has been really unbelievable,” said McEwan, who also won the 2012 and 2013 Team USA Trials.

“To come out on top is such a great feeling, and being back on Team USA and getting to bowl the World Cup with Marshall is awesome. I think it all hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Joining McEwan with automatic spots on Team USA 2016 was Stefanie Johnson of Grand Prairie, Texas, Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, and Shannon O’Keefe of O’Fallon, Illinois.

Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, Erin McCarthy of Omaha, Nebraska, Josie Earnest of Nashville, Tennessee, and Bryanna Cote of Red Rock, Arizona, were selected by the National Selection Committee based on their performances at the Team USA Trials this week.

Kayla Johnson of Washington, Illinois, Brittni Hamilton of Webster, New York, and Missy Parkin of Laguna Hills, California, were selected by the National Selection Committee based on submitted resumes.

Schwartz (right) also earned a spot on Team USA by defeating Heather Penatzer of Tucson, Arizona, in the finals of the women’s U.S. Amateur title match, 238-133.

“I just wanted to make good shots and do my best,” said Schwartz, who has been a member Junior Team USA since 2014. “It’s a great feeling. I’ve never won anything this big, so it’s really cool. Being able to be on both Team USA and Junior Team USA is incredible.”

Via (left) captured the men’s U.S. Amateur title by delivering two strikes in the 10th frame to lock out top-seeded Doyle, the defending Team USA Trials champion, 219-212.

“I knew I had a good look and could make the shot,” said Via, who was a member of Junior Team USA in 2011 and 2012. “I just had to zero in, focus and make the best shots possible. It’s unbelievable to be on Team USA. Spending time on the Junior Team was amazing, and I’ve been wanting this ever since. It’s a dream come true.”

Penatzer defeated Jordan Richard of Tipton, Michigan, 235-199, to advance to the stepladder final, while Via outlasted Chapman, 279-246, to earn his spot in the men’s final.

This week marked the first time the U.S. Amateur Championships has been held in nearly a decade.

Some of the nation’s top young bowlers also found success at Gold Coast this week, earning spots on Junior Team USA.

Automatic spots on the boys side went to Anthony Simonsen of Princeton, Texas, Wesley Low Jr. of Palmdale, California, Matt Russo of Millstone Township, New Jersey, and Kenneth Ryan of Farmingdale, New Jersey.

Meeco Walker of East Cleveland, Ohio, and Andrew Anderson of Holly, Michigan, were selected by the National Selection Committee based on their performances.

Doyle, Michael Tang of San Francisco, Cortez Schenck of Phoenix, Thomas Peters of Belleville, Illinois, Brandon Biondo of Carpentersville, Illinois, and Chad Mee of Hamburg, New York, already earned their spots on Junior Team USA 2016 based on their performances at the 2015 Junior Gold Championships.

Earning automatic spots on Junior Team USA 2016 for the girls was Schwartz, Penatzer, Haley Richard of Tipton, Michigan, and Kayla Crawford of Silvis, Illinois.
Ashley Dunn of Palmdale, California, and Gazmine Mason of Cranston, Rhode Island, were selected by the National Selection Committee based on performance.

Jordan Richard, Breanna Clemmer of Clover, South Carolina, Hollyann Johansen of Wichita, Kansas, Sydney Brummett of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Julia Bond of Aurora, Illinois, and Sierra Kanemoto of Dayton, Ohio, already earned their spots on Junior Team USA 2016 based on their performances at the 2015 Junior Gold Championships.

James Grago III of Hampstead, North Carolina, led the men’s final qualifying round on the 45-foot Rome pattern with a 1,448 total, while O’Keefe paced the women with a 1,361 total.

The players this week earned points based on their finishing position in each of the qualifying rounds – the top bowler of the block earned one ranking point, second place in the block earned two points, etc. – with the lowest total of ranking points after five six-game blocks determining the winners.

To be eligible for the U.S. Amateur portion of the event, a bowler must not hold or have held a professional membership (PBA or PWBA) anytime in 2015. Also, anyone who has won a professional title (regional, national or senior) as a professional was not eligible to compete as an amateur.

Bowlers age 20 or younger as of Jan. 1, 2016 were eligible for spots on Junior Team USA this week.

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2016 USBC Team USA Trials – Round 5 Results

Top 20 with position, name, hometown and six-game total

Men’s Division (Complete Standings):
1, James Grago III, Hampstead, N.C., 1,448
2, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 1,434
3, Rhino Page, Orlando, Fla., 1,428
4, Wesley Low Jr., Palmdale, Calif., 1,394
5, Michael Eaton Jr., Mason, Ohio, 1,390
6, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 1,382
7, Bryan Dragotta, Selden, N.Y., 1,380
8, Matthew Farber, Plainview, N.Y., 1,373
9, Kenneth Ryan, Farmingdale, N.J., 1,371
T10, Ryan Winters, Livonia, Mich., 1,365
T10, Peter Vergos, Apopka, Fla., 1,365
12, John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 1,363
13, Zeke Bayt, Henderson, Nev., 1,362
14, Brandon Biondo, Carpentersville, Ill., 1,351
15, Sam Cantrell, Citrus Heights, Calif., 1,347
16, Darren Tang, San Francisco, 1,346
17, Matt Russo, Millstone Township, N.J., 1,345
18, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 1,342
19, Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich., 1,339
20, Nick Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., 1,337

Women’s Division (Complete Standings):
1, Shannon O’Keefe, O’Fallon, Ill., 1,361
2, Shannon Pluhowsky, Dayton, Ohio, 1,336
3, Josie Earnest, Nashville, Tenn., 1,331
4, Randi Speiler, Bodfish, Calif., 1,323
5, Stefanie Johnson, Grand Prairie, Texas, 1,313
6, Holly Harris, Wichita, Kan., 1,294
7, Kayla Crawford, Silvis, Ill., 1,292
8, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 1,289
9, Kayla Bandy, Salisbury, Md., 1,284
10, Justyne Falbo, Greensburg, Pa., 1,278
11, Mary Wells, Westerville, Ohio, 1,264
12, Erin McCarthy, Omaha, Neb., 1,258
13, Kalynn Carl, Albany, N.Y., 1,255
14, Marina Stever, Mesa, Ariz., 1,243
T15, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 1,241
T15, Emily Notebaert, Rochester, N.Y., 1,241
17, Danyn Terry, Coarsegold, Calif., 1,229
18, Amanda Greene, Romney, W.Va., 1,228
19, Lauren Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., 1,224
20, Elysia Current, Ephrata, Pa., 1,221

2015 USBC Team USA Trials – Overall Standings after Round 5

Top 20 with position, name, hometown and total points. Points based on finishing position in each round; top three amateurs advance to stepladder finals.

Men’s Division (Complete Standings):
1, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 38 (13-17-2-4-2)
2, Kamron Doyle, Brentwood, Tenn., 62 (2-15-7-16-22)
3, Chris Via, Springfield, Ohio, 81 (19-14-3-8-37)
4, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 85 (7-38-13-21-6)
5, AJ Chapman, Manchester, Iowa, 88 (5-4-29-18-32)
6, Anthony Simonsen, Princeton, Texas, 90 (7-20-6-28-29)
7, Rob Gotchall, Clarksville, Tenn., 93 (12-19-25-5-32)
8, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 107 (30-29-4-26-18)
9, Wesley Low Jr., Palmdale, Calif., 122 (11-59-8-40-4)
10, Matt Russo, Millstone Township, N.J., 129 (20-62-16-14-17)
11, John Janawicz, Winter Haven, Fla., 140 (46-8-42-32-12)
12, Michael Tang, San Francisco, 152 (18-17-62-1-54)
T13, Zach Hattori, Henderson, Nev., 158 (24-7-1-11-115)
T13, Jeff Fehr, Cincinnati, 158 (4-1-12-36-105)
15, Michael Eaton Jr., Mason, Ohio, 171 (77-4-68-17-5)
16, Matthew Farber, Plainview, N.Y., 172 (40-3-52-69-8)
17, AJ Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 178 (27-9-35-53-54)
18, Kenneth Ryan, Farmingdale, N.J., 185 (3-84-50-39-9)
19, Nick Kruml, Downers Grove, Ill., 189 (56-36-11-52-34)
T20, Brandon Biondo, Carpentersville, Ill., 191 (26-10-24-117-14)
T20, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 191 (47-33-39-48-24)

U.S. National Amateur Bowling Championships – Men’s Stepladder Finals
Championship Round:
1. Chris Via, Springfield, Ohio
2. Kamron Doyle, Brentwood, Tenn.
3. AJ Chapman, Manchester, Iowa

Playoff Results:
Semifinal Match: No. 2 Via def. No. 3 Chapman, 279-246
Championship: Via def. No. 1 Doyle, 219-212.