PABCON: Janawicz, Marcano win singles
August 20, 2012
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HENDERSON, Nev. - Team USA's John Janawicz had a monumental comeback in the final game to win the men's singles gold medal Monday in the opening event of the 2012 Pan American Bowling Confederation Adult Championships.
Sitting 76 pins outside of first going into the final game, Janawicz started the sixth game with nine consecutive strikes to earn the gold medal with 1,449 (241.5 average) at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center. Venezuela's Alicia Marcano earned the women's singles gold medal with 1,368.
Janawicz closed out the block with a 278 game, leaving a 2 pin after starting with nine strikes. The final-game tally was just enough to give him the gold by seven pins over Mexico's Andre Fors, who finished with a 299 game. Brazil's Marcelo Suartz, who led going into the final game, earned the bronze with 1,428 after closing with 181.
"I knew I needed a big game and had to do something different, so I moved in a little bit and changed my grip pressure," said Janawicz, who also won the PABCON men's singles title in 2007. "After two frames, I knew the ball was doing the right thing and at that point it was just about getting it there."
The gold medal for Team USA capped off a good start to the tournament for the U.S. men's team. Marshall Kent finished fifth, Tommy Jones ended up sixth, Bill O'Neill took seventh, Steve Smith was eighth and Patrick Allen was 13th.
On the women's side, Marcano closed strong with games of 245 and 236 to claim the title. Team USA's Shannon Pluhowsky earned the silver medal finishing with 1,353, while Colombia's Paola Gomez took the bronze with 1,340.
Marcano, who also won the PABCON women's singles gold in 1997, entered the 10th frame of the last game needing a mark with good count to win the gold and delivered a perfect strike for the win.
"I won the gold medal in singles in 1997 and it feels good to be on the podium again for Venezuela," Marcano said. "The bowlers now in PABCON are even better than in 1997, so that makes me feel more special."
Team USA's Liz Johnson finished fifth, while Josie Earnest was seventh. Stefanie Nation (11th), Diandra Asbaty (13th) and Leanne Hulsenberg (42nd) rounded out the finishers for Team USA.
The action now shifts to the doubles event, which will take place starting at 8 a.m. Pacific on Tuesday. BOWL.com's BowlTV is providing free live streaming of the entire tournament.
For more information on the 2012 PABCON Combined Championships, visit BOWL.com/PABCON2012.
2012 PABCON ADULT CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Monday's results
MEN'S SINGLES
GOLD - John Janawicz, United States, 1,449
SILVER - Andre Fors, Mexico, 1,442
BRONZE - Marcelo Suartz, Brazil, 1,428
WOMEN'S SINGLES
GOLD - Alicia Marcano, Venezuela, 1,368
SILVER - Shannon Pluhowsky, United States, 1,353
BRONZE - Paola Gomez, Colombia, 1,340
HENDERSON, Nev. - Team USA's John Janawicz had a monumental comeback in the final game to win the men's singles gold medal Monday in the opening event of the 2012 Pan American Bowling Confederation Adult Championships.
Sitting 76 pins outside of first going into the final game, Janawicz started the sixth game with nine consecutive strikes to earn the gold medal with 1,449 (241.5 average) at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center. Venezuela's Alicia Marcano earned the women's singles gold medal with 1,368.Janawicz closed out the block with a 278 game, leaving a 2 pin after starting with nine strikes. The final-game tally was just enough to give him the gold by seven pins over Mexico's Andre Fors, who finished with a 299 game. Brazil's Marcelo Suartz, who led going into the final game, earned the bronze with 1,428 after closing with 181.
"I knew I needed a big game and had to do something different, so I moved in a little bit and changed my grip pressure," said Janawicz, who also won the PABCON men's singles title in 2007. "After two frames, I knew the ball was doing the right thing and at that point it was just about getting it there."
The gold medal for Team USA capped off a good start to the tournament for the U.S. men's team. Marshall Kent finished fifth, Tommy Jones ended up sixth, Bill O'Neill took seventh, Steve Smith was eighth and Patrick Allen was 13th.
On the women's side, Marcano closed strong with games of 245 and 236 to claim the title. Team USA's Shannon Pluhowsky earned the silver medal finishing with 1,353, while Colombia's Paola Gomez took the bronze with 1,340.
Marcano, who also won the PABCON women's singles gold in 1997, entered the 10th frame of the last game needing a mark with good count to win the gold and delivered a perfect strike for the win.
"I won the gold medal in singles in 1997 and it feels good to be on the podium again for Venezuela," Marcano said. "The bowlers now in PABCON are even better than in 1997, so that makes me feel more special."
Team USA's Liz Johnson finished fifth, while Josie Earnest was seventh. Stefanie Nation (11th), Diandra Asbaty (13th) and Leanne Hulsenberg (42nd) rounded out the finishers for Team USA.
The action now shifts to the doubles event, which will take place starting at 8 a.m. Pacific on Tuesday. BOWL.com's BowlTV is providing free live streaming of the entire tournament.
For more information on the 2012 PABCON Combined Championships, visit BOWL.com/PABCON2012.
2012 PABCON ADULT CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Monday's results
MEN'S SINGLES
GOLD - John Janawicz, United States, 1,449
SILVER - Andre Fors, Mexico, 1,442
BRONZE - Marcelo Suartz, Brazil, 1,428
WOMEN'S SINGLES
GOLD - Alicia Marcano, Venezuela, 1,368
SILVER - Shannon Pluhowsky, United States, 1,353
BRONZE - Paola Gomez, Colombia, 1,340