WYC: Kent, Via advance in Masters

Two Junior Team USA boys are still in the hunt for medals in Masters - the final event of the 2012 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Youth Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

WYC Marshall KentMarshall Kent of Yakima, Wash., leads with a 24-game total of 5,391 (224.6 average), while Chris Via of Springfield, Ohio, is seven with 5,124 (213.5 average).

The top 24 boys and top 24 girls in the all-events standings after 18 games advanced to Monday's first step in the Masters. After six additional games, the cut was made to the top eight in each division.

Round robin match play in the Masters event will begin Tuesday with the players taking part in seven games (no position round). The top four will then move on to the medal round.

On the girls side, four Junior Team USA bowlers advanced to the top 24 but all four missed the cut to the final eight.

Jessica Earnest of Vandalia, Ill., finished ninth with 4,860 (202.5 average), missing the cut by 14 pins, while Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, N.Y., was 10th with 4,854 (202.25 average), just missing the cut by 20 pins.

Kelsey Muther of Topeka, Kan., finished 16th with 4,742, while Amanda Greene of Romney, W.Va., ended up 21st with 4,678.

Hwang Yeon-Ju of Korea holds the top spot in the girls division with 5,105 as seven of the top eight players come from the Asian Zone.

For the first time in the history of the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Youth Championships, the Junior Team USA boys and girls swept the gold medals in the team event Sunday in Bangkok, Thailand.

For more information on the 2012 World Youth Championships, visit WorldYouth2012.com.