After the second round of qualifying at the 2011 QubicaAMF World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa, Team USA's Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C., and Diandra Asbaty of Chicago both are in the top three in their respective divisions.

Jones shot 1,273 for his five-game block at Northcliff Bowling Centre on Friday, including a 300 game in the fourth game of the squad, and is in second place with a 2,455 total for 10 games. Jones is 80 pins behind Australian two-hander Jason Belmonte, who leads the field with a 2,535 total, an average of 253.5. Finland's Kimmo Lehtonen is third with 2,395.

"I went into today knowing I needed to throw a few more strikes," Jones said. "Ten games in the books of a long tournament, so I am looking forward to a couple of more good days."

Asbaty, the 2006 QubicaAMF World Cup champion, averaged 232.4 in Friday's second round, totaling 1,162 for five games, to move into third place on the women's side with a 2,256 total. Defending champion Aumi Guerra of the Dominican Republic leads with 2,417, and Cherie Tan of Singapore is third with 2,290.

"Both sides of the house are playing pretty different, so we have to be aware of that," Asbaty said. "I am happy with my performance today, but I know there are a lot of games to go. I am looking forward to tomorrow."

More than 80 countries are being represented at this year's event, and all participants will bowl 20 games of qualifying over four days before the field is cut to the top 24 men and top 24 women for eight additional games Monday.

The top eight men and top eight women after 28 games advance to the Round of 8 on Dec. 6, where the field will be paired down to the top three men and top three women for the stepladder finals Dec. 7.


Want to compete in the QubicaAMF World Cup next year? The winners of the 2012 USBC Team USA Trials this January will automatically earn spots to compete in the 2012 event! For entry information, click here.

For more information and scores from the 2011 QubicaAMF World Cup, visit Qubicaamf.com or click here.