The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The men’s team was the first to hit the lanes for Team Bahamas at the Pan American Bowling Confederation (PABCON) Championships being hosted in Cali, Colombia.

The Bahamas competed in men’s singles doubles and triples thus far at the Bolera Departmental Rodrigo Cobo in Cali, featuring the region’s top bowlers from 14 countries.

The men’s team includes Sonith Lockhart, Richie Pyfrom, Byron McClain, Derrick Burrows, Kelsey Rolle and Ken Brathwaite.

Pyfrom was the top singles finisher for the Bahamas at No.48 among the field of 98 bowlers.

He bowled a total of 1,207 through the six rounds for an average of 201.17, tied with Fransico Valentine of Puerto Rico. Pyfrom’s tournament high was a 222 recorded in round three.

Rolle was ranked No.54 with a total of 1,184 and an average of 197.33. His top performance was an opening round of 234.

Burrows finished at No.76 with a total score of 1,104 and average of 184.

Lockhart was No.84 with an average of 179.50 (1083), Brathwaite at No. 96 with an average of 167 (1002) and McClain at No.98 with an average of 154 (927).

In doubles play, Pyform and Rolle led the way for Team Bahamas and finished at No.38 in the field of 48 teams.

They produced a total of 2,222 for an average of 185.17 and produced a high score of 392 in round two.

McClain and Brathwaite were ranked No.42 with an average of 181.58 (2179) which included a high score of 404 in round two.

Lockhart and Burrows scored an average of 171 and total of 2,052 to finish at no.47.

In triples play, Pyfrom, Burrows and Rolle finished 24th with an average of 180.83.

McClain, Lockhart and Braithwaite rounded out the field at No.31 with an average of 166.89.

The men’s segment of the tournament continues through September 17.

The Bahamas women’s team includes Jonice Lockhart, Driskell Rolle, Janice Hoyte, Marina McClain, Camille Burnside and Kayla Nixon.

Their competition takes place September 18-24.

The 2016 PABCON Senior Championships has high stakes for the region’s top competitors.

The top eight men’s teams and top eight women’s teams will qualify for the combined 2017 World Championships in Kuwait. This will be determined by a combined total pinfall from the following categories in each division - top four singles scores, top two doubles scores, top trios set and pinfall in team competition.

The top two countries will qualify for the World Games, which is held every fourth year and next will be contested in Wroclaw, Poland, in July 2017. This will be a combined pinfall total for the top two men and top two women for each country during the 24 games at the PABCON event. 

The United States, Venezuela and Colombia previously qualified for the 2017 World Games through the PABCON Champion of Champions event in Mexico last April.