Team USA men come from behind to win gold in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Entering the final round trailing by more than 180 pins to Mexico, Team USA stormed back in dramatic fashion to win the men's team event Saturday morning at the 2009 Pan American Bowling Confederation Championships.

The United States finished with 6,697 and easily pulled away from Mexico in the final three games while also breaking the event record of 6,464 set by Team USA in 2007. The Mexicans finished nearly 300 pins behind with 6,411. Venezuela took the bronze with 6,210 at Carolina Bowling Center.

Bill O'Neill totaled 1,456 for six games, including an 804 series Saturday morning, to lead Team USA, and he was joined by David Haynes (1,319), Tommy Jones (1,268), Chris Barnes (1,247), Cassidy Schaub (740) and Patrick Allen (667).

Team USA opened Saturday morning's second block with a 1,278 to overcome the deficit they faced after three games and take a lead they would never give back.

"We knew we needed to get out of the gate strong today," O'Neill said. "Three of us struck on six of our first seven shots and that really set the tone for the first game. It was pretty impressive how we all worked and struck together."

O'Neill also dominated the all-events standings as Team USA swept the medals. O'Neill finished the 24 games with 5,589, an average of 232.21, and beat out Jones by more than 300 pins for the gold medal. Jones took silver with 5,287 and Haynes earned bronze with 5,285.

"To come here and bowl with these guys has just been amazing," O'Neill said. "To perform this well in front of these guys and coaches means so much to me."

Barnes finished fourth, Allen was sixth an Schaub was 11th as all six Team USA players advanced to Saturday afternoon's Masters match play, which features the top 16 players in the all-events standings.

For more information on the 2009 PABCON Championships, visit BOWL.com.


2009 PABCON CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Carolina Bowling Center (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Saturday's Results

TEAM

MEN
(Top 5; six games)

1, United States, 6,697. 2, Mexico, 6,411. 3, Venezuela, 6,210. 4, Puerto Rico, 6,182. 5, Colombia, 6,154.

ALL-EVENTS

MEN
(Top 5; 24 games)

1, Bill O'Neill, United States, 5,589. 2, Tommy Jones, United States, 5,287. 3, David Haynes, United States, 5,285. 4, Chris Barnes, United States, 5,257. 5, Andres Gomez, Colombia, 5,235.