Medalists in singles competition in women's bowling at the World Games (from left): Kelly Kulick, United States (silver), Laura Beuthner, Germany (gold), Clara Guerrero, Colombia (bronze)

ARLINGTON, Texas – Team USA’s Kelly Kulick of Union, New Jersey, captured the silver medal in women’s singles, the opening event of the bowling competition at the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, on Friday.

Kulick earned the sixth seed in the 16-player bracket during morning qualifying, and won three best-of-three matches to reach the title match, where she fell to top-seed Laura Beuthner of Germany, 2-0 (287-165, 222-207), at Sky Bowling.

“I felt like I read the lanes really well, (Team USA head coach) Rod (Ross) and I worked very well deciding what ball to use, where to play the lanes, what kind of manipulation I could do with my hand,” Kulick said. “I stuck playing in where I was successful all day long and, unfortunately, it wasn’t there for me against the lefty. I wanted to play offense and stick with what got me to the championship match, and that was playing in.”

It was the third medal Kulick has captured in World Games competition. In 2013, she won gold in mixed doubles with Mike Fagan but fell to Ukraine’s Daria Kovalova in the singles title match.

In Friday’s semifinals, Kulick would face Kovalova again, but this time walked away with a 2-0 victory (234-183, 247-214).

“I really thought this would be the opportunity to win gold in this event,” Kulick said. “But it was a successful day and knowing what I had makes it look even brighter for Danielle (McEwan) and I going into doubles competition (on Sunday). I averaged 250 the first three, she averaged 240-something – I think we have a very good chance. Our biggest competition, I think, is Colombia and Germany.”

Colombia’s Clara Guerrero lost to Beuthner, 2-1, (269-226, 210-247, 218-227) in Friday’s semifinals but earned the bronze medal with a sweep of Kovalova, 239-170 and 228-216.

The 32 competitors bowled six games of qualifying to determine who advanced to the 16-player bracket. Beuthner’s 1,549 pinfall total (258.2 average) led the field, and she was followed by Colombia’s Rocio Restrepo (1,486), and Germany’s Birgit Poppler (1,481). Poland’s Daria Pajak and Japan’s Mirai Ishimoto tied for fifth in qualifying at 1,449.

On her way to the title match, Kulick had to eliminate her Team USA teammate. McEwan qualified 11th, which placed her against Kulick in the Round of 16. After McEwan won the first game, 274-222, Kulick rebounded to win the next two games, 277-225 and 248-229, to advance.

Kulick then edged Germany’s Poppler, 2-1 (156-206, 227-224, 279-222), to reach the semifinals, where she defeated Kovalova.

The World Games is an international multi-sport event for sports, disciplines or events within a sport that are not contested in the Olympic Games. It has been held every four years since 1981.

The bowling competition continues Saturday as Team USA’s Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, South Carolina, and Marshall Kent of Yakima, Washington, compete in men’s singles. Kulick and McEwan will return Sunday for women’s doubles, while men’s doubles will take place Monday.

The World Games are organized and governed by the International World Games Association (IWGA), under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The event will showcase 31 sports and approximately 3,500 athletes and officials from more than 100 countries during its 11 days of competition that started July 21.

Visit TheWorldGames2017.com/en for more information on the World Games.