Derek Eoff of Greenfield, Wis., continued to torch the field and teamed up with David O'Sullivan of Orlando, Fla., to win the doubles gold medal Tuesday - combining for a blistering 2,644 over six games for an average of 220.33 per game.

Their doubles score is the highest at an American Zone Championships since 1989 and third highest in the event's history, which dates back to 1961. It's the second medal in as many days for Eoff, who earned the singles bronze medal Monday in his Team USA debut.

"You can't ask for a better start," said Eoff, who was joined on the singles medal podium by another Team USA newcomer - gold-medalist John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla. "This is an unbelievable feeling."

O'Sullivan shot 1,318 (219.67 average) on the long oil pattern during Tuesday's afternoon session - including a 277 in the opening game to pick up Eoff, who struggled with a 168 in Game 1.

"I'm not really looking at my score or his," said O'Sullivan, who previously won a pair of medals with Junior Team USA at the 2004 World Youth Championships in Guam. "Instead we're just looking for a good team score every game -- and 445 got it done. I'm glad I could put something together and get us a good score."

After a ball change to a Storm Solid Thurnderstruck before Game 3, Eoff averaged 246.75 over the final four games to finish with 1,326.

"I got tricked a little bit from the practice sessions because that ball wasn't working then," said Eoff, who also is leading all-events with 2,678 - 100 pins over O'Sullivan's second-place total. "They put a little more volume (oil on the lane pattern) out today. I kicked myself because I've used this ball on long patterns before and had great results."

"I knew Derek would find it sooner or later," O'Sullivan said. "Something like this is a dream come true. It was such an awesome day bowling with Derek. We work so well together and kept each other focused on making great shots. It was a good day, but we have a lot more work to do and medals to win."

Their score remained on top after the evening session completed, but not before receiving a few scares. Mexico's Benjamin Corona and Alejandro Cruz were plus-134 after three games and on pace to take the gold medal before combining for only 365 in Game 4 and falling back from there.

Entering the final game, Canada's Ray Vervynck and Joe Ciach were 90 pins off the leaders' pace, but quickly made up lost ground with a flurry of strikes. Vervynck's 4-6-7 split in the eighth frame was the deciding factor as the Canadians finished with 2,624 and the silver medal.

Corona and Cruz edged Puerto Rico's Francisco Colon and Luis Rodriguez by 10 pins for the bronze.

Team USA's David Haynes of Las Vegas and Bill Hoffman of Columbus, Ohio, finished ninth with 2,425, while Janawicz and Rhino Page of Fresno, Calif., placed 18th with 2,358.

Competition continues at 8 a.m. local time Wednesday (10 a.m. EDT) with the first three games of the six-game trios event. Eoff, O'Sullivan and Janawicz will comprise one Team USA team, while Hoffman, Haynes and Page will make up the other.

The Men's American Zone Championships, which will conclude June 1, features 18 countries and consists of six disciplines (singles, doubles, trios, team, all-events and Masters). The event is in Guatemala for the first time since 1966.

Since the American Zone Championships were first held in 1961, the United States now has won 163 medals between the men and women. The next best showing is from Mexico, which has 90 medals in that time.

Beginning in 2007, the American Zone Championships moved from a quadrennial event featuring both men and women to a biennial event, with separate Women's American Zone Championships and Men's American Zone Championships alternating each year. The first Women's American Zone Championships is scheduled to be held in Chile in 2008.

Visit the Team USA section of bowl.com for complete coverage of the Men's American Zone Championships, including stories, photos, player Web logs and results.

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 to nearly three million adult and youth members and enhances the bowling experience.

Bowl with US

2007 MEN'S AMERICAN ZONE CHAMPIONSHIPS
(at Metro Bowl, Guatemala City, Guatemala)
Tuesday's Results

DOUBLES
(6 games)
Top 20
1. Derek Eoff/David O'Sullivan, United States, 2,644; 2. Ray Vervynck/Joe Ciach, Canada, 2,644; 3. Benjamin Corona/Alejandro Cruz, Mexico, 2,486; 4. Francisco Colon/Luis Rodriguez, Puerto Rico, 2,476; 5. Mauricio Pinol/Jorge Mario Valdez, Guatemala, 2,465; 6. Darren Klassen/Corey Clayton, Canada, 2,454; 7. Andaraunick Simoune/Edgardo Ruiz, Puerto Rico, 2,449; 8. Daniel Falconi/Marco Martinez, Mexico, 2,444; 9. David Haynes/Bill Hoffman, United States, 2,425; 10. Jorge Otalora/Manuel Otalora, Colombia, 2,412.

11. Jean-Sebastien Lessard/George Lambert IV, Canada, 2,404; 12. Jhimy Gualdron/Jaime Gonzalez, Colombia, 2,388; 13. Gonzalo Gonzalez/Luis Oliva, Venezuela, 2,385; 14. Jose Zambrano/Jorge Quintero, Panama, 2,368; 15. Luis McKinney/Victor Richaros Jr., Dominican Republic, 2,367; 16. Juan Carlos Morales/Andres Herrera, Guatemala, 2,365; 17. Marvin Murillo/Mario Valverde, Costa Rica, 2,360; 18. John Janawicz/Rhino Page, United States, 2,358; 19. Maurice Caines/David Maycock, Bermuda, 2,343; 20. Diego Rojas/Alejandro Reyna, Costa Rica, 2,316.


ALL-EVENTS
(Through 12 of 24 games)
Top 20
1. Derek Eoff, United States, 2,678; 2. David O'Sullivan, United States, 2,578; 3. Joe Ciach, Canada, 2,552; 4. Rhino Page, United States, 2,525; 5. Darren Klassen, Canada, 2,510; 6. Andres Herrera, Guatemala, 2,499; 7. John Janawicz, United States, 2,498; 8. Jean-Sebastien Lessard, Canada, 2,492; 9. Mauricio Pinol, Guatemala, 2,453; 10. Marcio Vieira, Brazil, 2,446.

11. Benjamin Corona, Mexico, 2,431; 12. David Haynes, United States, 2,429; 13. Gonzalo Gonzalez, Venezuela, 2,427; 14. Rodrigo Hermes, Brazil, 2,424; 15. (tie) Jose Zambrano, Panama, 2,420, Daniel Falconi, Mexico, 2,420; 17. Enrique Gutierrez, Mexico, 2,408; 18. Luis Rodriguez, Puerto Rico, 2,400; 19. Marcos Baeza, Mexico, 2,397; 20. Luis Olivo, Venezuela, 2,385.

For complete results, visit www.bowl.com.