6
- November 2016
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
SHANGHAI -
With a plot that could rival any inspira-
tional sports movie, Wang Hongbo made history Satur-
day as he became the first bowler from China to win
the
The triumph, most of which unfolded in his home
bowling center, also made Hongbo the second bowler
in 52 years of QubicaAMF World Cup history to win the
event on his home soil.
Bob Worrall of the United States was the first to ac-
complish the feat when he won the 1981 event in New
York.
Hongbo, who uses the unique spinner release most
often seen in Asian countries, capped the memorable
week with a 225-180 win against Irish two-hander
Christopher Sloan on a special two-lane installation
inside Luwan Sports Complex's basketball facility.
The 2016 event also marks a special milestone for
Sweden's Jenny Wegner, who defeated Team USA's
Danielle McEwan, 231-204, to win the women's title.
The last time a woman from Sweden won the World
Cup also was the last time the event was held in China,
as Asa Larsson hoisted the coveted trophy in Beijing in
1991.
Two keys to Wegner's success Saturday were a ball
change before the final match, which she hoped would
help her conquer the challenging left lane, and focusing
on some friends down lane between frames to keep
her from thinking too much about the expansive venue
or any poor shots along the way.
"Right now, I feel shocked, especially with how many
great players were here this week," said Wegner, who
qualified as the No. 4 seed after 36 games at Hao's
Bowling, located on the ground floor below the arena. "I
was a little nervous and unsure about bowling in the
arena and with all of the people, but it was a lot of fun."
Wegner failed to convert the 3-10 split early in the
championship match, but strikes in frames five through
eight swung the momentum in her favor, and she
sealed the win with another strike to start the 10th
frame.
The first half of the men's final was a see-saw battle,
as Hongbo and Sloan both were plagued by splits.
A 7-8 split in the fifth frame and 4-10 split in the sixth
frame turned Hongbo's early lead into a deficit, but
Sloan couldn't capitalize. He left splits of his own in the
fifth and seventh frames, and it proved to be the open-
ing Hongbo needed to complete his historic run.
Hongbo closed with six consecutive strikes to claim
his place in the record books.
On the way to the final, Hongbo used the momentum
of a five-strike start to top Slovenia's Anze Grabrijan,
234-200, while Sloan defeated top seed Martin Larsen
of Sweden, 188-165.
Sloan denied the Swedish representatives the chance
to sweep the World Cup
titles. Sweden is the only
nation to have accom-
plished the feat, doing so in
1986.
Wegner's path to the title
first went through top seed
Bernice Lim of Singapore,
whom she defeated 224-
207. The two exchanged
early open frames before
settling in, and Wegner was
able to outlast the 2016
United States Bowling Con-
gress Queens champion.
McEwan earned her meet-
ing with Wegner with a 248-236 win over Malaysia's
Syaidatul Hamidi, also throwing a clutch strike in her
final frame to escape with the victory.
The field at the 2016 World Cup included 81 men and
63 women, representing 84 countries, all of whom
bowled 20 games over four days, before the field was
cut to the top 24 for eight additional games.
The top eight in each division then qualified for round-
robin match play, and 36-game pinfall totals, including
30 bonus pins for each win, determined the semifinal-
ists. All competition leading up to Saturday's semifinals
was held at Hao's Bowling, a 24-lane facility.
2016 QUBICAAMF BOWLING WORLD CUP
At Hao's Bowling, Shanghai
Saturday's results
*finals were held in special arena setting
MEN
Semifinals:
Christopher Sloan, Ireland, def. Martin
Larsen, Sweden, 188-165; Wang Hongbo, China, def.
Anze Grabrijan, Slovenia, 234-200
Final:
Hongbo def. Sloan, 225-180
WOMEN
Semifinals:
Jenny Wegner, Sweden, def. Bernice Lim,
Singapore, 224-207; Danielle McEwan, United States,
def. Syaidatul Hamidi, Malaysia, 248-236
Final:
Wegner def. McEwan, 231-204
2017 TEAM USA TRIALS/U.S. NATIONAL AMATEUR
Jan. 3-8, 2017
Sunset Station, Henderson, Nev.
Entries received on or before Dec. 1, 2016, are $350.
Entries received after Dec. 1, 2016 are $400.
ATTENTION:
The field will be capped at 175 men and 175 women.
China, Sweden Claim Titles At 2016 QubicaAMF World Cup
By Matt Cannizzaro
Danielle McEwan
