HENDERSON, Nev. - In a high-scoring final match, Team USA's John Szczerbinski and Chris Barnes emerged as the gold medal winners in the men's doubles event Wednesday at the 2013 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Championships.

Szczerbinski and Barnes defeated Finland's Pasi Uotila and Osku Palerma, 569-473, in the gold-medal match at Sunset Station's Strike Zone Bowling Center. Team USA's John Janawicz and Mike Fagan and Finland's Joonas Jahkinen and Petteri Salonen shared the bronze medal.

In the title match, Szczerbinski led the way with a 290 game, while Barnes contributed 279. Uotila had 247 and Palermaa shot 226 for Finland.

"It's going to be a long time before someone beats that score in a doubles final," Barnes said. "I've been fortunate to win other gold medals but winning the doubles is a first for me. There's nothing better than hearing your national anthem at the World Championships."

After struggling in the six games of qualifying earlier in the day, Szczerbinski said he was proud to be able to step up and help Barnes when it mattered most.

"Chris was the work horse today, and I was just piggybacking off of him," said Szczerbinski, who earned his first World Championships gold medal. "To be able to come back after the way I bowled in qualifying and help Chris out in the medal round makes this feel even better."

In qualifying, Barnes fired a perfect game en route to a 1,502 total for six games, while Szczerbinski fired just 1,237. The total helped Barnes take the lead in all-events at the halfway point with a 12-game total of 2,866 (238.83 average).

The semifinals had both Finland and the United States taking on each other, assuring a Finland-U.S. final. Szczerbinski and Barnes defeated  Janawicz and Fagan, 472-458, while Uotila and Palermaa knocked off Jahkinen and Salonen, 480-453.

The action shifts to the women's doubles event Thursday 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.
Wednesday's results

MEN'S DOUBLES

CHAMPIONSHIP
(Winner earns gold, loser gets silver)

John Szczerbinski/Chris Barnes, United States def. Pasi Uotila/Osku Palermaa, Finland, 569-473

SEMIFINALS
(Winners advance, losers tie for bronze)

Szczerbinski/Barnes def. John Janawicz/Mike Fagan, United States, 472-458
Uotila/Palermaa def. Joonas Jehkinen/Petteri Salonen, Finland, 480-453