HENDERSON, Nev. - Team USA's Stefanie Nation, Shannon Pluhowsky and Liz Johnson claimed the women's trios gold medal Wednesday at the 2012 Pan American Bowling Confederation Adult Championships.

The Team USA trio finished with 4,007 for six games to take the top spot at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center. Canada took the men's trios gold, while Team USA earned silver.

Nation led the way for Team USA with 1,371, while Pluhowsky shot 1,324 and Johnson added 1,312. Team USA pulled away in the final game with 694 to lock up the win.

"We came together as a team today, bowled well and could not be happier," Nation said. "It never gets old to win gold and hopefully we will be celebrating another one in a couple days."

Colombia's Maria Jose Rodriguez, Rocio Restrepo and Clara Guerrero claimed the silver medal with 3,925, while Mexico's Sayuri Yamada, Gabriela Hernandez and Sandra Gongora took the bronze with 3,892.

Team USA's Josie Earnest, Diandra Asbaty and Leanne Hulsenberg shot 626 in the final game and dropped off the podium, finishing fourth with 3,878.



On the men's side, George Lambert, Mark Buffa and Jean Sebastian Lessard earned Canada the gold medal with 4,094. Powered by a 300 opening game, Lambert led the way with 1,469, while Buffa shot 1,349 and Lessard had 1,276.

"It's frustrating to come out and be so close so many times and to come out on top today means redemption for us," Lambert said. "To come out here and represent your country and win a gold medal is second to none."

Team USA's Tommy Jones (1,415), Bill O'Neill (1,384) and Marshall Kent (1,264) earned the silver medal with 4,063. Venezuela's Eddy Fuentes, Richard Leon and Amleto Monacelli took bronze with 3,991.

The United States' John Janawicz, Patrick Allen and Steve Smith missed earning a medal by 40 pins, finishing fifth with 3,951.

The action now shifts to the team event, which will take place starting at 8 a.m. Pacific on Thursday with the first three games. BOWL.com's BowlTV is providing free live streaming of the entire tournament.

For more information on the 2012 PABCON Adult Championships, visit BOWL.com/PABCON2012.

2012 PABCON ADULT CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center, Henderson, Nev.
Wednesday's results

MEN'S TRIOS

GOLD - Jean Sebastian Lessard (1,276)/Mark Buffa (1,349)/George Lambert (1,469), Canada, 4,094
SILVER - Bill O'Neill (1,384)/Marshall Kent (1,264)/Tommy Jones (1,415), United States, 4,063
BRONZE - Eddy Fuentes (1,321)/Richard Leon (1,265)/Amleto Monacelli (1,405), Venezuela, 3,991

WOMEN'S TRIOS

GOLD - Stefanie Nation (1,371)/Shannon Pluhowsky (1,324)/Liz Johnson (1,312), United States, 4,007
SILVER - Maria Jose Rodriguez (1,257)/Rocio Restrepo (1,326)/Clara Guerrero (1,342), Colombia, 3,925
BRONZE - Sayuri Yamada (1,161)/Gabriela Hernandez (1,370)/Sandra Gongora (1,361), Mexico, 3,892