Hess advances to men's singles semifinals at IBF 2023 World Senior Championships
December 10, 2023
(From left to right: Parker Bohn III of Jackson, New Jersey; Tom Hess of Granger, Iowa)
CALI, Colombia – The 2021 International Bowling Federation World Senior Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was Tom Hess’ first tournament as a member of Senior Team USA.
If the powerful right-hander from Granger, Iowa, was feeling any nerves heading into his debut performance, he certainly did a good job of hiding them as he wound up walking away with the event’s men’s singles gold medal.
That meant that when men’s singles qualifying began at the IBF 2023 World Senior Championships at Cali’s sports complex on Saturday, Hess didn’t enter as an unproven rookie or even just as another competitor; he entered as the man to beat.
That didn’t seem to bother him in the least, however, as Hess led the day’s opening qualifying squad with a six-game total of 1,343 (a 223.83 average) thanks to games of 204, 203, 227, 247, 247 and 215.
Mexico’s Mario Quintero and Rolando Sebelen of the Dominican Republic would post higher numbers during the evening block, coming in with scores of 1,403 and 1,382, respectively.
Nevertheless, by finishing in the top three on Saturday, Hess punched his ticket to Tuesday’s semifinals, guaranteeing himself at least a bronze medal and keeping alive the opportunity to successfully defend the gold he won in Dubai.
Parker Bohn III of Jackson, New Jersey, authored Team USA’s next-highest finish on Saturday, claiming sixth place in the 72-player field with a six-game total of 1,295. John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Florida (1,287), was eighth, and Chris Barnes of Denton, Texas (1,226) was 14th.
Semifinal action will take place Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. Eastern with Hess battling Sebelen and Quintero squaring off against England’s Ian Hollands, who qualified fourth on Saturday with a six-game total of 1,332.
Team USA’s Dana Ausec of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, also will be a part of Tuesday’s semifinal action after placing third and fourth, respectively, during Friday’s women’s singles qualifying.
Hess knows that he’ll have his hands full with Sebelen, who showed that he can strike with the best of them, recording scores of 279, 268 and 257 (an 804 series) during Games 2-4 on Saturday.
But Hess also knows that he can do plenty of striking of his own, so he will be anything but intimidated when the lights come on for the semifinals.
“I don’t mean this to be cocky, but right now, when I bowl my best, I don’t think I can be beat,” Hess said. “And I know that I’m going to have to come out and bowl my best, especially if Rolando (Sebelen) puts on a striking clinic like he did today.”
If Hess can muster up his best on Tuesday, he just may find himself donning the World Senior Championships men’s singles gold medal yet again. It wasn’t something he gave much thought to before heading to Colombia, but it’s definitely something he has his sights set on now.
“I hadn’t really thought about being the reigning men’s champion until we started today, and somebody mentioned it; that’s when it really sunk in,” Hess said. “It’s a little bit surreal. The opportunity to repeat feels really good obviously. I’m just excited to get to that match.”
Hess will have a few days to wait as doubles action is next on the docket at the 2023 World Senior Championships.
Women’s qualifying takes place Sunday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Eastern with the men following on Monday at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Eastern.
The 2023 World Senior Championships kicked off with the official practice sessions on Dec. 7 and will conclude with the men’s and women’s team finals and a farewell dinner on Dec. 14.
Livestreaming coverage and updated standings are available by visiting worldseniors2023.com.
For more information on Senior Team USA, visit BOWL.com/Team-USA/Team-USA-Senior-Bowling.
CALI, Colombia – The 2021 International Bowling Federation World Senior Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was Tom Hess’ first tournament as a member of Senior Team USA.
If the powerful right-hander from Granger, Iowa, was feeling any nerves heading into his debut performance, he certainly did a good job of hiding them as he wound up walking away with the event’s men’s singles gold medal.
That meant that when men’s singles qualifying began at the IBF 2023 World Senior Championships at Cali’s sports complex on Saturday, Hess didn’t enter as an unproven rookie or even just as another competitor; he entered as the man to beat.
That didn’t seem to bother him in the least, however, as Hess led the day’s opening qualifying squad with a six-game total of 1,343 (a 223.83 average) thanks to games of 204, 203, 227, 247, 247 and 215.
Mexico’s Mario Quintero and Rolando Sebelen of the Dominican Republic would post higher numbers during the evening block, coming in with scores of 1,403 and 1,382, respectively.
Nevertheless, by finishing in the top three on Saturday, Hess punched his ticket to Tuesday’s semifinals, guaranteeing himself at least a bronze medal and keeping alive the opportunity to successfully defend the gold he won in Dubai.
Parker Bohn III of Jackson, New Jersey, authored Team USA’s next-highest finish on Saturday, claiming sixth place in the 72-player field with a six-game total of 1,295. John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Florida (1,287), was eighth, and Chris Barnes of Denton, Texas (1,226) was 14th.
Semifinal action will take place Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. Eastern with Hess battling Sebelen and Quintero squaring off against England’s Ian Hollands, who qualified fourth on Saturday with a six-game total of 1,332.
Team USA’s Dana Ausec of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, also will be a part of Tuesday’s semifinal action after placing third and fourth, respectively, during Friday’s women’s singles qualifying.
Hess knows that he’ll have his hands full with Sebelen, who showed that he can strike with the best of them, recording scores of 279, 268 and 257 (an 804 series) during Games 2-4 on Saturday.
But Hess also knows that he can do plenty of striking of his own, so he will be anything but intimidated when the lights come on for the semifinals.
“I don’t mean this to be cocky, but right now, when I bowl my best, I don’t think I can be beat,” Hess said. “And I know that I’m going to have to come out and bowl my best, especially if Rolando (Sebelen) puts on a striking clinic like he did today.”
If Hess can muster up his best on Tuesday, he just may find himself donning the World Senior Championships men’s singles gold medal yet again. It wasn’t something he gave much thought to before heading to Colombia, but it’s definitely something he has his sights set on now.
“I hadn’t really thought about being the reigning men’s champion until we started today, and somebody mentioned it; that’s when it really sunk in,” Hess said. “It’s a little bit surreal. The opportunity to repeat feels really good obviously. I’m just excited to get to that match.”
Hess will have a few days to wait as doubles action is next on the docket at the 2023 World Senior Championships.
Women’s qualifying takes place Sunday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Eastern with the men following on Monday at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Eastern.
The 2023 World Senior Championships kicked off with the official practice sessions on Dec. 7 and will conclude with the men’s and women’s team finals and a farewell dinner on Dec. 14.
Livestreaming coverage and updated standings are available by visiting worldseniors2023.com.
For more information on Senior Team USA, visit BOWL.com/Team-USA/Team-USA-Senior-Bowling.