Canada takes gold in men's trios at Worlds
August 25, 2013
HENDERSON, Nev. - Canada won just its second men's gold medal in World Championships history Sunday night as Mark Buffa, Francois Lavoie and Patrick Girard won the men's trios event at the 2013 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Championships.
The Canadians put together a big game in the gold-medal match, defeating Korea, 721-602, at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center. The United States and Colombia shared the bronze medal after falling in the semifinals.
Buffa led the way for Canada in the title match, starting with nine consecutive strikes before finishing with a 279 game. Lavoie added a 258 game, while Girard shot 184.
The Koreans were led by Cho Young-Seon with a 233 game, while Kim Jun-Yung shot 186 and Choi Bok-Eum had 183.
The only other gold medal in men's competition at the World Championships for Canada came in 1995 when Marc Doi won the singles event in Reno, Nev.
"Our motto at training camp earlier this year was to raise the bar, and I think we've done that," Buffa said. "This is a great win for our country and shows that some of the changes we have made to our national team have really paid off."
In the semifinals, Canada slipped past Team USA in a low-scoring match, 601-579. Lavoie led the way for the Canadians with a 211 game, while Girard shot 196 and Buffa had 194. Team USA was led by Chris Barnes with a 218 game and was followed by Tommy Jones (204) and Bill O'Neill (157).
Korea advanced out of the other semifinal in dominating fashion, defeating Colombia 699-444. Kim led the Korean effort with 268, while Cho had 246 and Choi shot 185. In a rough outing for the Colombians, Oscar Rodriguez shot 183, Edward Rey had 151 and Santiago Mejia shot 110.
With 18 of 24 games now completed in the all-events race, Barnes leads the field of 216 bowlers with 4,311 (239.5 average). Sweden's Martin Larsen is second with 4,095, while Australia's Jason Belmonte and Korea's Cho are tied for third with 3,994
The action shifts to the conclusion of the women's trios event Monday at the World Championships. All rounds of the World Championships are being broadcast live on BOWL.com's BowlTV.
For more information on the WTBA World Championships, visit BOWL.com/World2013.
2013 WTBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Sunday's results
MEN'S TRIOS
CHAMPIONSHIP
(Winner earns gold, loser gets silver)
Canada def. Korea, 721-602
SEMIFINALS
(Winners advance, losers tie for bronze)
Canada def. United States, 601-579
Korea def. Colombia, 699-444
The Canadians put together a big game in the gold-medal match, defeating Korea, 721-602, at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center. The United States and Colombia shared the bronze medal after falling in the semifinals.
Buffa led the way for Canada in the title match, starting with nine consecutive strikes before finishing with a 279 game. Lavoie added a 258 game, while Girard shot 184.The Koreans were led by Cho Young-Seon with a 233 game, while Kim Jun-Yung shot 186 and Choi Bok-Eum had 183.
The only other gold medal in men's competition at the World Championships for Canada came in 1995 when Marc Doi won the singles event in Reno, Nev.
"Our motto at training camp earlier this year was to raise the bar, and I think we've done that," Buffa said. "This is a great win for our country and shows that some of the changes we have made to our national team have really paid off."
In the semifinals, Canada slipped past Team USA in a low-scoring match, 601-579. Lavoie led the way for the Canadians with a 211 game, while Girard shot 196 and Buffa had 194. Team USA was led by Chris Barnes with a 218 game and was followed by Tommy Jones (204) and Bill O'Neill (157).
Korea advanced out of the other semifinal in dominating fashion, defeating Colombia 699-444. Kim led the Korean effort with 268, while Cho had 246 and Choi shot 185. In a rough outing for the Colombians, Oscar Rodriguez shot 183, Edward Rey had 151 and Santiago Mejia shot 110.
With 18 of 24 games now completed in the all-events race, Barnes leads the field of 216 bowlers with 4,311 (239.5 average). Sweden's Martin Larsen is second with 4,095, while Australia's Jason Belmonte and Korea's Cho are tied for third with 3,994
The action shifts to the conclusion of the women's trios event Monday at the World Championships. All rounds of the World Championships are being broadcast live on BOWL.com's BowlTV.
For more information on the WTBA World Championships, visit BOWL.com/World2013.
2013 WTBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Sunday's results
MEN'S TRIOS
CHAMPIONSHIP
(Winner earns gold, loser gets silver)
Canada def. Korea, 721-602
SEMIFINALS
(Winners advance, losers tie for bronze)
Canada def. United States, 601-579
Korea def. Colombia, 699-444