2010 PABCON Women's Championships officially open
September 26, 2010
HENDERSON, Nev.- Sixty bowlers from 13 countries took part in the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Pan American Bowling Confederation Women's Championships at Sunset Station Hotel and Casino's Strike Zone Bowling Center in suburban Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon.
The players participated in the traditional march of countries before a full house of spectators as the tournament staff declared the event officially open.
Competition begins Monday with singles, and medalists will be determined based on six-game totals. Bowling will continue throughout the week, concluding with Masters match play Friday.
Four of Team USA's representatives- Liz Johnson, Kelly Kulick, Shannon O'Keefe and Shannon Pluhowsky all have enjoyed success at the PABCON Championships, while Tennelle Milligan and Stefanie Nation will compete in the event for the first time.
"Even though I've bowled a number of other events, it's kind of fun to be a rookie again in a way," said Milligan, who finished seventh at the 2009 QubicaAMF World Cup in Melaka, Malaysia. "I'm looking forward to being here with my teammates, and since my hometown is only a few hours away, I have some family coming in and a lot of friends nearby who are coming to watch."
Team USA will look to add to its medal count at the PABCON Championships. Dating to 1961, Team USA (men and women combined) has brought home 98 gold medals, 58 silver medals and 46 bronze medals for a total of 202. Mexico has the second-most with 99 total medals.
Medals are awarded for singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and Masters match play, which will consist of the top 16 women from the all-events standings. Last year in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Team USA women won gold in trios, team, all-events and Masters.
"Being together as a team and having a good time is what this is all about," said O'Keefe, the defending all-events champion at the PABCON Women's Championships. "Winning the team gold is the main goal, and after that, we just want to have a good time and represent our country the best we can."
The players participated in the traditional march of countries before a full house of spectators as the tournament staff declared the event officially open.
Competition begins Monday with singles, and medalists will be determined based on six-game totals. Bowling will continue throughout the week, concluding with Masters match play Friday.
Four of Team USA's representatives- Liz Johnson, Kelly Kulick, Shannon O'Keefe and Shannon Pluhowsky all have enjoyed success at the PABCON Championships, while Tennelle Milligan and Stefanie Nation will compete in the event for the first time.
"Even though I've bowled a number of other events, it's kind of fun to be a rookie again in a way," said Milligan, who finished seventh at the 2009 QubicaAMF World Cup in Melaka, Malaysia. "I'm looking forward to being here with my teammates, and since my hometown is only a few hours away, I have some family coming in and a lot of friends nearby who are coming to watch."
Team USA will look to add to its medal count at the PABCON Championships. Dating to 1961, Team USA (men and women combined) has brought home 98 gold medals, 58 silver medals and 46 bronze medals for a total of 202. Mexico has the second-most with 99 total medals.
Medals are awarded for singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and Masters match play, which will consist of the top 16 women from the all-events standings. Last year in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Team USA women won gold in trios, team, all-events and Masters.
"Being together as a team and having a good time is what this is all about," said O'Keefe, the defending all-events champion at the PABCON Women's Championships. "Winning the team gold is the main goal, and after that, we just want to have a good time and represent our country the best we can."