ARLINGTON, Texas - It's been more than 12 years since Mike Fagan represented the United States as a youth bowler in international competition, and this Monday, the 30-year-old from Patchoge, N.Y., will make his debut as a member of Team USA.

The United States is sending a team of six of the top professional bowlers in the world to take on the rest of the American Zone in the Pan American Bowling Confederation Men's Championships, which begins Monday in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Fagan will be joined by Patrick Allen of Wesley Chapel, Fla., Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas, Bill O'Neill of Southampton, Pa., and Walter Ray Williams Jr. of Ocala, Fla.

"I'm really looking forward to this very much," said Fagan, who won two silver medals at the 1998 World Youth Championships in Incheon, South Korea. "I've seen the success Team USA has achieved in the past, and that's something I want to be a part of. I know I'm good enough to be a part of that, and now that I'm finally getting a chance, hopefully I can take advantage of that."

The event will feature the best men's teams in the American Zone competing in five-player team, trios, doubles, singles, all-events and match-play Masters. The United States has dominated the event in the past and since 1997 has won 25 of a possible 30 gold medals at the PABCON Men's Championships.

Although Team USA has had success in the past, Fagan doesn't expect the road to more gold medals to be easy in Guadalajara.

"I think this is definitely not going to be a walk in the park for our team," said Fagan, who has two career titles on the Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour. "We've got a lot of great competition. There are several either current or former professional bowlers representing other countries. The field is going to be strong, and we've got to be on our game."

The 2011 PABCON Men's Championships kicks off with opening ceremonies Sunday night before singles competition begins on Monday at Bowlerama Tapatio, which will also host the 2011 Pan American Games in October.