Barnes teamed with Diandra Asbaty of Chicago to win doubles at the American Zone Championships, giving the United States Bowling Congress Team USA its second gold of the tournament.

Asbaty led with a 1,288 six-game series while Barnes contributed 1,201 as the pair totaled 2,489. Canada took silver with 2,471, and Venezuela won bronze with 2,423.

Barnes, who won two gold medals at the American Zone Championships in 1997, left the Women's World Championships last month frustrated and disappointed after winning four medals - none gold.

"This feels terrific, and it's a long time coming," Barnes said. "Diandra just dragged me kicking and screaming all the way. She kept going, and I just tried to stay out of her way. Winning this gold definitely helps build some momentum for trios and team."

The other two Team USA pairings finished just out of the medals. Lisa Noor of Mound, Minn., and Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix made a late charge, but came up three pins short of bronze with 2,420. Amanda Burgoyne of Newport, Minn., and Jennifer Petrick of Canton, Ohio, finished fifth at 2,377.

On the men's side, Daniel Falconi and Alejandro Cruz of Mexico held on to win the gold medal with 2,612.

Team USA took silver and bronze as Erik Vermilyea of Maplewood, Minn., and Steve Weber of Chalmette, La., shot 2,578 and David Haynes of Las Vegas and Derek Sapp of Keokuk, Iowa, had 2,541. Andrew Cain of Phoenix and Rhino Page of San Diego finished fifth with 2,513.

In all-events, Asbaty maintained her position at the top with a 2,554 total for 12 games. Barnes, Noor, Pluhowsky and Petrick are all in the top 10 with Burgoyne sitting in 20th.

Cain still leads men's all-events with 2,588 and the other five United States players are all among the top 15.

Individual totals from singles, doubles, trios and team are combined to determine the all-events winner. The top 16 in all-events also advance to Masters play.

Action continues Friday with the first three games of trios. The American Zone Championships features nearly 20 countries and over 200 athletes, consisting of six disciplines (singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and Masters) and concluding Sept. 27.

For complete coverage of the American Zone Championships, including stories, photos and results, visit the Team USA section of 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 and enhances the bowling experience.

USBC officially launched Jan. 1, 2005, as an organization serving nearly three million adult and youth bowlers in the United States. It resulted from the merger of the American Bowling Congress, Women's International Bowling Congress, Young American Bowling Alliance and USA Bowling.

Bowl with US

AMERICAN ZONE CHAMPIONSHIPS
(at MetroBowl Family Center, San Jose, Costa Rica)
Thursday's results

DOUBLES
(Six games)
Top 10

Men
1, Daniel Falconi/Alejandro Cruz, Mexico, 2,612. 2, Steve Weber/Erik Vermilyea, United States, 2,578. 3, David Haynes/Derek Sapp, United States, 2,541. 4, Hernan Ramirez/Rafael Medina, Venezuela, 2,520. 5, Andrew Cain/Rhino Page, United States, 2,513. 6, Arturo Hernandez/Luis Olivo, Venezuela, 2,474. 7, Victor Richards/Rolando Sebelen, 2,397. 8 (tie), Jack Guay/Lorry Ho, Canada, and Tyrel Rose/Ray Vervynck, Canada, 2,389. 10, George Lambert/Lionel Lewis, Canada, 2,359.

Women
1, Diandra Asbaty/Lynda Barnes, United States, 2,489. 2, Isabelle Rioux/Kerrie Ryan-Ciach, Canada, 2,471. 3, Karen Marcano/Alicia Marcano, Venezuela, 2,423. 4, Lisa Noor/Shannon Pluhowsky, United States, 2,420. 5, Amanda Burgoyne/Jennifer Petrick, United States, 2,377. 6, Annie Henriquez/Aumi Guerra, Dominican Republic, 2,351. 7, Iliano Lomelli/Adriana Perez, Mexico, 2,345. 8, Patricia Ciotti/Mariela Alarza, Venezuela, 2,329. 9, Robin Crawford/Julie Johnson-Loyer, Canada, 2,322. 10, Sayuri Yamada/Adriana Ortega, Mexico, 2,298.

ALL-EVENTS
(12 of 24 games)

Men
1, Andrew Cain, United States, 2,588. 3, Benjamin Corona, Mexico, 2,549. 3, Rafael Medina, Venezuela, 2,537. 4 (tie), Alejandro Cruz, Mexico, and Tyrel Rose, Canada, 2,501. 6, Arturo Hernandez, Venezuela, 2,500. 7, Daniel Falconi, Mexico, 2,498. 8, Hernan Ramirez, Venezuela, 2,493. 9, Erik Vermilyea, United States, 2,474. 10, Rolando Sebelen, Dominican Republic, 2,469.

Women
1, Diandra Asbaty, United States, 2,554. 2, Isabelle Rioux, Canada, 2,513. 3, Kerrie Ryan-Ciach, Canada, 2,485. 4, Lynda Barnes, United States, 2,468. 5, Iliana Lomelli, Mexico, 2,466. 6, Lisa Noor, United States, 2,445. 7, Mariela Alarza, Venezuela, 2,434. 8, Shannon Pluhowsky, United States, 2,413. 9, Alicia Marcano, Venezuela, 2,412. 10, Jennifer Petrick, United States, 2,363