MEN'S RESULTS | WOMEN'S RESULTS

LAS VEGAS - United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Lucy Sandelin and Paula Vidad won the gold medal in women's doubles at the 2015 World Bowling Senior Championships, while Colombia's Nicolas Ruiz and Julio Soto took the men's title at Sam's Town Bowling Center on Thursday.

In the women's final, Sandelin and Vidad topped Germany's Martina Beckel and Gisela Insinger, 430-417. In the men's title match, Ruiz and Soto recorded an exciting one-pin victory over Canada's John Chapman and Ray Vervynck, 429-428.

The U.S. women saw Germany take the early advantage, but five consecutive strikes in the middle of the title tilt from Vidad gave the United States the edge as the match headed into the homestretch.

"When I get pumped up, it helps me throw better shots, and it got us going," said Vidad, who finished the game with 218 as she celebrated her 56th birthday. "We're a great team. I couldn't be happier. This is the best birthday ever."

Sandelin rolled consecutive strikes of her own in the eighth, ninth and 10th as she bested her silver-medal performance in doubles from the 2013 tournament with teammate Tish Johnson.

"I've had two years to think about coming in second and getting silver," said Sandelin, who added 212 to the winning total. "I've been waiting for this day, and really just tried to take it one shot at a time. I even said to myself that this is why I've been practicing every time at home. I've been looking forward to this day for two years, and it's awesome to be standing there with that gold medal around my neck with Paula."

Sandelin and Vidad, who led qualifying with a six-game total of 2,419, made the finals with a victory over Canada's France Joubert and Jill Friis, 414-372, in the semifinal match.

Beckel and Insinger cruised into the finals with a 420-343 win over USBC Hall of Famers Robin Romeo and Johnson. Canada and the United States took home bronze medals.

Neither doubles pair relented in the men's championship game as Canada held a 14-pin advantage entering the final frame. Ruiz delivered three strikes to start the 10th for Colombia, reducing the deficit to three pins as anchors Soto and Vervynck stepped up.

"I knew how close the match was going to be," said Ruiz, who finished with a 215 game. "I made an adjustment for the last frame and got three strikes."

Both Soto and Vervynck delivered strikes to start the 10th frame. Soto left the 1-5-8-9 combination on his second offering, giving Vervynck the opportunity to get nine or better on his second shot to secure the title.

Vervynck left the 3-9-10 split, giving both players the chance to spare to force a tie. Soto recorded the mark, while Vervynck only was able to knock down the 9 and 10 pins to send the gold to Colombia. Chapman and Vervynck earned silver medals.

"I knew I had to make the spare," said Soto, who added 214 to the effort. "I needed it, and I made it. I'm very happy."

The Colombians, who also made the medal round by a single pin to qualify fourth with a combined six-game total of 2,447, defeated USBC Hall of Famers Lennie Boresch Jr. and Johnny Petraglia in the semifinals to advance to the title match, 391-358. Petraglia and Boresch led qualifying with 2,656.

Chapman and Vervynck earned their spot in the finals by defeating Australia's Robert Chinner and Shaun Cummings, 434-395. The United States and Australia earned bronze medals.

Ron Mohr and Bob Learn Jr. of the United States missed advancing to the medal round by just 15 pins, but finished ninth overall with 2,432. Mohr and Hugh Miller teamed for the doubles title at the 2013 tournament.

The World Bowling Senior Championships features more than 200 male and female participants age 50 and older from 33 countries vying for medals in singles, doubles, team, all-events and Masters competition.

Competition continues Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern with men's team qualifying. All rounds of the 2015 event will be broadcast live on BOWL.com's BowlTV.

For more information on the World Bowling Senior Championships, visit WorldBowling.org.