MASTERS: Boys | Girls

SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic - Junior Team USA's Elise Bolton earned the silver medal in Masters match play Saturday afternoon in the final event of the 2011 Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championships.

Bolton lost in the championship match to Puerto Rico's Neishka Cardona, 2-1, in the best-of-three match at Cibao Bowling Center. Cardona took the opening game 234-212, lost the second game 234-194 and won the decider 236-225.

"I'm happy because I made good shots, and I was able to bring home a silver medal for our team," said Bolton, who will bowl collegiately next season with Cardona at Sam Houston State. "I don't think there was much else I could have done in the match. Neishka just bowled great."

Kaitlin Quinn also earned a medal in the girls Masters competition, losing in the semifinals to Cardona, 2-0, to earn a share of the bronze medal with Colombia's Diana Gomez.

The Junior Team USA boys were shut out of the medals in their Masters event. Marshall Kent and EJ Tackett advanced to the quarterfinals but lost one win short of a medal.

Puerto Rico's Hector Soto went on to win the gold medal by defeating Venezuela's Kevin Belandria, 2-1. Cristian Azcona of Puerto Rico and Andres Fors Farias of Mexico shared the bronze with semifinal losses.


2011 PABCON YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Cibao Bowling Center, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Saturday's Results

MASTERS MEDALISTS

BOYS

Gold -  Hector Soto, Puerto Rico
Silver - Kevin Belandria, Venezuela
Bronze (tie) - Cristian Azcona, Puerto Rico; Andre Fors Farias, Mexico

GIRLS

Gold - Neishka Cardona, Puerto Rico
Silver - Elise Bolton, United States
Bronze (tie) - Diana Gomez, Colombia; Kaitlin Quinn, United States