United States, Russia lead after first round at 2016 World Cup

STANDINGS: MEN | WOMEN
 
SHANGHAI -
Team USA's Danielle McEwan has a pair of fourth-place finishes at the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup, but she considers herself a far different bowler than she was during her last appearance at the event.

Three more years of international bowling and two full seasons on the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour have her much more comfortable on the world stage, and she proved that as she set the pace through the first round of qualifying at the 2016 QubicaAMF World Cup in Shanghai.

McEwan averaged more than 231 on the way to a 1,157 five-game block Monday at Hao's Bowling and leads the 63-player women's field after the first of four days of qualifying.

The top five were unchallenged as the day's second squad hit the lanes, with England's Lisa John using a 10-strike final game to land in second place with a 1,126 total. Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia is third with 1,074 and is followed by Mexico's Iliana Lomeli (1,060) and 2016 United States Bowling Congress Queens champion Bernice Lim of Singapore (1,058).

Two-time defending champion Clara Guerrero of Colombia finished the day in 11th place with a 1,027 total. Aumi Guerra of the Dominican Republic, who also is looking to become the first woman to win the World Cup three times, is 24th after five games with a 940 total.

"Since my last World Cup in 2013, I've been able to travel a lot more, so the shock of going overseas is gone, which really helps," said McEwan, who was fourth at the World Cup in 2012 and 2013. "Between the World Bowling Tour, Team USA and the PWBA, I feel much more experienced and no longer like the new person out there."

As a participant on the first squad this week at Hao's Bowling, McEwan didn't know exactly what to expect, so the initial games also served as an opportunity to gather information about the 24-lane center and 42-foot oil pattern.

"Today went well, and while the goal was to get as many pins as possible, it also was a chance to learn and see what worked and what didn't," said McEwan, who is being coached this week by 2014 World Cup champion Chris Barnes. "We had a good game plan coming in, and it worked pretty well. Things got a little shaky later in the block, but we were able to try a few things that should help for tomorrow."

On the men's side Monday, the top spot in the standings came down to the final game as Russia's Yan Korshak shot 239 to outdistance Australia's Sam Cooley and secure the lead with a 1,151 total. Cooley, who won the men's division at the 2016 China Open last week in the same venue, is second after five games at the World Cup with 1,101.

Opening-squad leader Petteri Salonen of Finland is third in the men's standings with 1,097 and is followed by Sweden's Martin Larsen (1,093), while Team USA's Marshall Kent and hometown representative Wang Hongbo of China are tied for fifth with 1,080.

Competition at Hao's Bowling in downtown Shanghai's Luwan Sports Complex continues Tuesday with five more games for all 144 competitors. The field includes 81 men and 63 women, representing 84 countries.

Qualifying at the 2016 QubicaAMF World Cup will take place over four days, and this year's winners will be determined Oct. 22.

After 20 games (five games each day), the field will be cut to the top 24 men and top 24 women for eight additional games. Total pinfall for 28 games will narrow the field to eight bowlers in each division for eight games of round-robin match play.

The top four men and top four women after 36 games, including bonus pins, will advance to the new knockout-style semifinals, where the No. 1 seed will face the No. 4 qualifier and No. 2 and No. 3 will do battle. The winners of each match will earn a spot in the championship game.