Team USA roster set on local lanes

The first of three major bowling events in Las Vegas over two weeks concluded Friday with the roster being finalized for the United States Bowling Congress 2008 Team USA.

The pros begin arriving today for two Denny's PBA Tour events.

In the team trials at the Strike Zone Bowling Center, Derek Eoff of Greenfield, Wis., jumped from fourth place to first to win a spot on Team USA for the second consecutive year.

Shannon O'Keefe of Brookfield, Wis., won the women's division. O'Keefe had gained a spot on the team based on her performance at last year's trials, and that allowed third-place finisher Stefanie Nation of Orlando, Fla., to join the team with runner-up Tina Stickney of Goodyear, Ariz.

John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., tied Nathan Bohr of Wichita, Kan., for second, and Janawicz had to win a one-game roll-off to get the last automatic spot on the roster.

The men's team will include PBA Tour stars Walter Ray Williams Jr., Chris Barnes, Tommy Jones, Parker Bohn III, Patrick Allen and Sean Rash.

Henderson's David Haynes, David O'Sullivan, Bill Hoffman and Rhino Page won spots last year.

The women's team includes Henderson's Wendy Macpherson, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Liz Johnson, Kelly Kulick, Kim Terrell, Diandra Asbaty and Missy Bellinder.

Lynda Barnes, Tennelle Milligan and Shannon Pluhowsky gained berths a year ago.

This is the first time professional bowlers can compete on the international team.

• PBA TOUR -- The PBA Tour has moved from Strike Zone to Red Rock Lanes, which will host its first professional event beginning Sunday with the three-day PBA Exempt Doubles Classic. That will be followed by the $200,000 PBA Tournament of Champions, which begins Thursday and concludes with the Jan. 27 finals televised live on ESPN.

• MILITARY -- The 33rd annual Military Bowling Championships at Gold Coast and the Orleans will begin at 7:30 a.m. Monday when the ceremonial first ball is rolled by Brigadier General Everett H. Thomas, Vice Commander for the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base.

The event, which ends Thursday, will include 1,050 active members and veterans of the armed services.

• 2009 USBC CHAMPIONSHIPS -- Cashman Center will be converted to a 56-lane bowling center early next year for the annual United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.

The tournament will have added luster with the return of the USBC Masters, scheduled for Feb. 8 to 15, 2009, with the Open Championships beginning shortly thereafter.

For more information, go to www.bowl.com.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0247.