KULICK'S MASTERS GOLD FINISHES OFF STRONG WEEK FOR TEAM USA

SANTIAGO, Chile - Kelly Kulick's Masters victory capped off a dominating week by Team USA at the 2008 Pan American Bowling Confederation Women's Championships as it swept all six gold medals, won five silver medals and three bronze medals.

Kulick of Union, N.J., knocked off Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 2-1, in the best two out of three games championship match. With two strikes in the final frame, Kulick locked up the title with a 227-219 win in the deciding game.

"I think people are going to look at the results and think this was an easy week for us, but it wasn't," said Kulick, who won gold medals in Masters, all-events, team, trios and doubles. "There's a lot of tough competition in our zone, and we worked really hard to win every single medal. To end the week with the Masters title is unbelievable."

Johnson closed out Game 1 with eight consecutive strikes in a 255-220 victory that was never in doubt. In Game 2, Kulick struck on six of her first seven shots and Johnson never mounted much of a challenge as Kulick evened the match with a 236-220 win to force the deciding game.

In the semifinals, Kulick overcame a 258-235 opening game loss to Mexico's Sandra Gongora to win the next two games 221-182 and 224-204. In a matchup of Team USA members, Johnson knocked off Diandra Asbaty of Chicago 245-226 and 217-202. Gongora and Asbaty shared the bronze medal.

The United States had a chance to sweep the Masters medals, but Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills, Texas, fell one spare short of winning her quarterfinal match against Gongora. Dorin-Ballard left the 4-6-7 split in the 10th frame to lose to Gongora, 587-577, in the three-game, total pins match.

Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., was also knocked out in the quarterfinals, losing to Johnson, 663-611. Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, dropped her opening round match to Joann Sanesac of Canada, 694-637.

The three Masters medals wrapped up a dominating week by Team USA. Out of a possible 16 medals the United States could win, it took home 14. The exceptions being the doubles bronze medal and one of the Masters bronze medals.

The 2008 PABCON Women's Championships features 16 countries from the American Zone competing in singles, doubles, trios, team, Masters and all-events.
For more information on the 2008 PABCON Women's Championships, including stories, results, photos and videos, visit bowl.com.

United States Bowling Congress
The United States Bowling Congress, as the national governing body, ensures the integrity and protects the future of the sport, provides programs and services to more than 2.6 million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.