By GENE J. KANAK
USBC Communications
IBNCHEON, Korea – Junior Team USA bowlers Annalise OBryant of Ball Ground, Ga., and Zach Andresen of Princeton, Minn., authored solid performances and currently are in position to advance to match play after the opening round of singles at the 2024 International Bowling Federation World Youth Championships.
OBryant put up games of 176, 188, 178, 217, 195 and 256 at Incheon’s Fiesta Bowling Center on Wednesday to place eighth in the women’s field with a six-game total of 1,210 (a 201.67 average), while Andresen authored scores of 213, 188, 230, 212, 245 and 205 to post a 1,293 (a 215.5 average) total and finish 14th among the men.
The women’s opening-day top five was occupied by Korea’s Boah Kim (1,298), Malaysia’s Adania Mohd Redzwan (1,269), Singapore’s Arianne Tay (1,269), Sweden’s Elin Bergqvist (1,246) and Finland’s Tiiamari Laukkanen (1,242).
Wednesday’s top five men’s scores were put up by Kuwait’s Nasser Alkandari (1,447), Germany’s Max Lorenz (1,421), Singapore’s Peter Khor (1,391), Iceland’s Isak Birkir Saevarsson (1,390) and Germany’s Zeno Janssen (1,367).
Despite their strong performances, OBryant and Andresen will have to play the waiting game as there still is one squad of women and one squad of men left to hit the lanes for qualifying on Thursday before each singles field is cut to the top 16 for match play.
Four Junior Team USA bowlers are among the athletes still waiting to complete Round 1 as Gianna Brandolino of Channahon, Ill., and Stow’s Jillian Martin have yet to bowl their opening round in the women’s singles competition, and Jacob Bockstie of Nottingham, Md., and Brandon Bohn of Jackson, N.J., still are to come for the men.
Americans Katelyn Abigania of San Diego and Braden Mallasch of Waupaca, Wis., were eliminated from singles contention after Wednesday’s opening round. Mallasch finished 18th on Day 1 with a six-game total of 1,248. Abigania came in with 1,074 and placed 28th.
Singles qualifying and match play will resume on Thursday and continue through July 12.
Doubles qualifying and match play will run from July 12-14, team qualifying and match play will occur on July 15-16 and all phases of mixed team competition will happen on July 17.
The tournament will end on July 18 with semifinal- and final-round action in singles, doubles and team and their accompanying medal ceremonies.