Natasha Roslan, Anthony Simonsen emerge as WYC Masters champions
08/02/16
Junior Team USA's Anthony Simonsen and Malaysia's Natasha Roslan capped an exciting week at the 2016 World Bowling Youth Championships by capturing the Masters gold medals Tuesday at Sun Valley in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States.
Simonsen (left), who made his Junior Team USA debut, collected his third gold medal of the event by defeating all-events gold medalist Pontus Andersson (right) of Sweden, 2-0, in the best-of-three championship match, while Roslan defeated Singapore's Amabel Chua in the deciding game, 227-187, to win the match, 2-1.
Andersson and Chua earned silver medals for their performances.
Simonsen's title tilt against Andersson started with each bowler firing five strikes in the first six frames of the opening game. The momentum turned in the seventh frame when Andersson left a 2-8-10 split and was unable to convert, giving Simonsen the edge. He remained clean to take the advantage with a 245-213 win.
In Game 2, Simonsen started strong again with four strikes in the first five frames, while Andersson left another 2-8-10 in the fifth frame to fall behind. An 8-10 split in the eighth frame ended any chance of a comeback for Andersson as Simonsen cruised to a 236-180 win to secure the title, 2-0.
"I think this week will be at the top of the list of memories for a long time," said Simonsen, who also won gold in doubles with Wesley Low Jr. and helped the United States to a third consecutive win in the team event.
"I didn't start the week bowling very well in singles, but I was able to get myself together mentally, and a little physically, to have a great week. To go out and win medals for your country, while wearing USA on your back, is a great feeling. This means everything."
To advance to the title match, Simonsen defeated Low (left) in a back-and-forth semifinal, 2-1. Low had the opportunity to double in the 10th frame of the deciding game to return to the title match for the second consecutive World Youth Championships, but he left a 6 pin to lose the game, 224-217. Simonsen won the first game 235-192, and Low won the second 231-224.
Low won the silver medal in Masters at the 2014 World Youth Championships in Hong Kong.
"That match was a rollercoaster," said Simonsen, the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Masters champion. "I think Wesley out-bowled me, but sometimes it's how the pins fall that day. I guess today was my day."
Andersson earned his spot in the title match by defeating Malaysia's Tun Hakim (above right), 2-0 (233-161, 221-205). Low and Tun Hasnul Azam earned bronze medals.
The girls' title match saw both Roslan (left) and Chua (right) struggle to get going on the left lane in the opening game, but Roslan prevailed to secure the advantage, 190-158.
The tide turned for both competitors in Game 2 as the strikes began to add up, and Chua extended the match by delivering a double in the 10th to win, 245-236.
The striking continued into the finale, but open frames in the sixth, eighth and ninth frames quickly erased a lead for Chua, earned with a run of four consecutive strikes early in the game. Roslan stayed clean on her way to a 227-187 victory.
"I'm just so happy," Roslan said. "This is my last time competing in the World Youth Championships, so this is a great win for me. I just tried to throw good shots and do my best."
Roslan swept defending Masters champion Mirai Ishimoto (left) of Japan, 2-0 (241-218, 248-221), to advance to the title match, while Chua won her semifinal match against Junior Team USA's Gazmine Mason (right), 2-0 (196-187, 201-198). Ishimoto and Mason earned bronze medals for their performances.
The United States led the way in the medal count at the 2016 World Youth Championships, collecting six out of 10 gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals for a total of 13 of the 39 handed out at Sun Valley Lanes this week.
This 2016 World Bowling Youth Championships included more than 200 competitors from 37 countries, competing for medals in five events - singles, doubles, team, all-events and masters.
Bowling fans from around the globe could watch the competition live on BOWL.com's BowlTV with continued coverage of all qualifying, semifinal and final rounds. To review the live-streaming broadcasts click here.
For complete information on the World Youth Championships, click here.
Photos courtesy of ABF Online.
U.S. boys, Korean girls win coveted Team gold at World Youth Championships
Eight teams advance to semifinals at 2016 World Youth Championships
United States, Korea win Doubles at 2016 World Youth Championships
United States sweeps Singles at 2016 World Youth Championships
Persson, Bond, Mason and Chin to bowl for the Girls' Singles title
Nebraska standouts ready for 2016 World Bowling Youth Championships
Junior Team USA members selected for 2016 World Youth Championships
From left, Team USA head coach Rod Ross, Wesley Low Jr., Michael Tang, Anthony Simonsen, Kamron Doyle, Gazmine Mason and Coach Kim Terrell-Kearney.
* two bronze medals were given in Girls All-Events
From top right, counterclockwise: Anthony Simonsen, Pontus Andersson, Wesley Low Jr. and Tun Hakim.
Best-of-three games format; winner gets gold, losers gets silver
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format; losers share the bronze medal
From top right, counterclockwise: Natasha Roslan, Amabel Chua, Gazmine Mason and Mirai Ishimoto.
Best-of-three games format; winner gets gold, losers gets silver
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format; losers share the bronze medal
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format; top 8 received a first-round bye
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format; top 8 received a first-round bye
2016 WYC

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Simonsen (left), who made his Junior Team USA debut, collected his third gold medal of the event by defeating all-events gold medalist Pontus Andersson (right) of Sweden, 2-0, in the best-of-three championship match, while Roslan defeated Singapore's Amabel Chua in the deciding game, 227-187, to win the match, 2-1.
Andersson and Chua earned silver medals for their performances.
Simonsen's title tilt against Andersson started with each bowler firing five strikes in the first six frames of the opening game. The momentum turned in the seventh frame when Andersson left a 2-8-10 split and was unable to convert, giving Simonsen the edge. He remained clean to take the advantage with a 245-213 win.
In Game 2, Simonsen started strong again with four strikes in the first five frames, while Andersson left another 2-8-10 in the fifth frame to fall behind. An 8-10 split in the eighth frame ended any chance of a comeback for Andersson as Simonsen cruised to a 236-180 win to secure the title, 2-0.
"I think this week will be at the top of the list of memories for a long time," said Simonsen, who also won gold in doubles with Wesley Low Jr. and helped the United States to a third consecutive win in the team event.
"I didn't start the week bowling very well in singles, but I was able to get myself together mentally, and a little physically, to have a great week. To go out and win medals for your country, while wearing USA on your back, is a great feeling. This means everything."


Low won the silver medal in Masters at the 2014 World Youth Championships in Hong Kong.
"That match was a rollercoaster," said Simonsen, the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Masters champion. "I think Wesley out-bowled me, but sometimes it's how the pins fall that day. I guess today was my day."
Andersson earned his spot in the title match by defeating Malaysia's Tun Hakim (above right), 2-0 (233-161, 221-205). Low and Tun Hasnul Azam earned bronze medals.


The tide turned for both competitors in Game 2 as the strikes began to add up, and Chua extended the match by delivering a double in the 10th to win, 245-236.
The striking continued into the finale, but open frames in the sixth, eighth and ninth frames quickly erased a lead for Chua, earned with a run of four consecutive strikes early in the game. Roslan stayed clean on her way to a 227-187 victory.


Roslan swept defending Masters champion Mirai Ishimoto (left) of Japan, 2-0 (241-218, 248-221), to advance to the title match, while Chua won her semifinal match against Junior Team USA's Gazmine Mason (right), 2-0 (196-187, 201-198). Ishimoto and Mason earned bronze medals for their performances.
The United States led the way in the medal count at the 2016 World Youth Championships, collecting six out of 10 gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals for a total of 13 of the 39 handed out at Sun Valley Lanes this week.

Bowling fans from around the globe could watch the competition live on BOWL.com's BowlTV with continued coverage of all qualifying, semifinal and final rounds. To review the live-streaming broadcasts click here.
For complete information on the World Youth Championships, click here.
Photos courtesy of ABF Online.
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United States, Korea win Doubles at 2016 World Youth Championships
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From left, Team USA head coach Rod Ross, Wesley Low Jr., Michael Tang, Anthony Simonsen, Kamron Doyle, Gazmine Mason and Coach Kim Terrell-Kearney.
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14th WYC Lincoln, Neb. - Medal Tally after five Disciplines (final)
* two bronze medals were given in Girls All-Events
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Pos | Overall | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Pos | Boys | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Pos | Girls | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
1. | USA | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1. | USA | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1. | USA | 2 | 2 | 3 |
2. | Korea | 2 | 1 | 2. | Sweden | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2. | Korea | 2 | 1 | ||
3. | Malaysia | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3. | Malaysia | 1 | 1 | 3. | Malaysia | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
4. | Sweden | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4. | Qatar | 1 | 4. | Singapore | 1 | ||||
5. | Japan | 1 | 1 | (tie) | Japan | 1 | 5. | Sweden | 3 | |||||
6. | Qatar | 1 | 6. | Dom. Republic | 2 | 6. | England | 1 | ||||||
(tie) | Singapore | 1 | 7. | Kuwait | 1 | (tie) | Japan | 1 | ||||||
8. | Dom. Republic | 2 | (tie) | Canada | 1 | |||||||||
9. | Canada | 1 | ||||||||||||
(tie) | England | 1 | ||||||||||||
(tie) | Kuwait | 1 | ||||||||||||
Total | 10 | 10 | 19* | Total | 5 | 5 | 9 | Total | 5 | 5 | 10* |
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From top right, counterclockwise: Anthony Simonsen, Pontus Andersson, Wesley Low Jr. and Tun Hakim.
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14th WYC - Boys Masters Championship Match
Best-of-three games format; winner gets gold, losers gets silver
Seed | Player | Country | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Won-Lost |
#1 | Pontus Andersson | Sweden | 213 | 180 | 0 | |
#5 | Anthony Simonsen | United States | 245 | 236 | 2 |
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14th WYC - Boys Masters Semifinals
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format; losers share the bronze medal
Seed | Player | Country | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Won-Lost |
#1 | Pontus Andersson | Sweden | 233 | 221 | 2 | |
#9 | Tun Hakim | Malaysia | 161 | 205 | 0 | |
#2 | Wesley Low Jr. | United States | 192 | 231 | 217 | 1 |
#5 | Anthony Simonsen | United States | 235 | 224 | 224 | 2 |
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From top right, counterclockwise: Natasha Roslan, Amabel Chua, Gazmine Mason and Mirai Ishimoto.
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14th WYC - Girls Masters Championship Match
Best-of-three games format; winner gets gold, losers gets silver
Seed | Player | Country | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Won-Lost |
#6 | Natasha Roslan | Malaysia | 190 | 236 | 227 | 2 |
#19 | Amabel Chua | Singapore | 158 | 245 | 187 | 1 |
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14th WYC - Girls Masters Semifinals
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format; losers share the bronze medal
Seed | Player | Country | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Won-Lost |
#1 | Gazmine Mason | United States | 187 | 198 | 0 | |
#19 | Amabel Chua | Singapore | 196 | 201 | 2 | |
#6 | Natasha Roslan | Malaysia | 241 | 248 | 2 | |
#11 | Mirai Ishimoto | Japan | 218 | 221 | 0 |
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14th WYC - Boys Masters Round of 8
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format
Seed | Player | Country | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Won-Lost |
#1 | Pontus Andersson | Sweden | 182 | 237 | 226 | 2 |
#14 | Michael Tang | United States | 199 | 182 | 193 | 1 |
#2 | Wesley Low Jr. | United States | 275 | 219 | 2 | |
#10 | Rafiq Ismail | Malaysia | 215 | 213 | 0 | |
#4 | Takuya Miyazawa | Japan | 188 | 208 | 0 | |
#9 | Tun Hakim | Malaysia | 209 | 234 | 2 | |
#5 | Anthony Simonsen | United States | 201 | 269 | 219 | 2 |
#6 | Niko Oksanen | Finland | 223 | 237 | 167 | 1 |
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14th WYC - Girls Masters Round of 8
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format
Seed | Player | Country | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Won-Lost |
#1 | Gazmine Mason | United States | 257 | 197 | 2 | |
#23 | Hong Sun Hwa | Korea | 213 | 164 | 0 | |
#3 | Victoria Chin | Malaysia | 210 | 223 | 185 | 1 |
#19 | Amabel Chua | Singapore | 212 | 217 | 192 | 2 |
#6 | Natasha Roslan | Malaysia | 215 | 222 | 246 | 2 |
#18 | Lee Yeong Seung | Korea | 247 | 205 | 235 | 1 |
#7 | Julia Bond | United States | 192 | 218 | 194 | 1 |
#11 | Mirai Ishimoto | Japan | 236 | 202 | 195 | 2 |
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14th WYC - Boys Masters Round of 16
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format
Seed | Player | Country | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Won-Lost |
#1 | Pontus Andersson | Sweden | 182 | 244 | 198 | 2 |
#18 | Massimiliano Fridegotto | Venezuela | 189 | 179 | 172 | 1 |
#2 | Wesley Low Jr. | United States | 210 | 222 | 2 | |
#16 | Santtu Tahvanainen | Finland | 201 | 187 | 0 | |
#3 | Jesper Svensson | Sweden | 288 | 205 | 218 | 1 |
#14 | Michael Tang | United States | 242 | 209 | 252 | 2 |
#4 | Takuya Miyazawa | Japan | 213 | 235 | 216 | 2 |
#13 | Antonio Florentino | Italy | 214 | 186 | 192 | 1 |
#5 | Anthony Simonsen | United States | 225 | 245 | 2 | |
#12 | Dylin Hunter | Canada | 178 | 211 | 0 | |
#6 | Niko Oksanen | Finland | 245 | 237 | 207 | 2 |
#11 | Mitch Hupe | Canada | 254 | 227 | 196 | 1 |
#7 | Hector Simo | Dominican Republic | 188 | 216 | 174 | 1 |
#10 | Rafiq Ismail | Malaysia | 192 | 168 | 269 | 2 |
#8 | Andre Michow | Germany | 191 | 192 | 0 | |
#9 | Tun Hakim | Malaysia | 235 | 216 | 2 |
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14th WYC - Girls Masters Round of 16
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format
Seed | Player | Country | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Won-Lost |
#1 | Gazmine Mason | United States | 182 | 226 | 182 | 2 |
#24 | Veronica Cepeda | Colombia | 210 | 184 | 173 | 1 |
#2 | Park Yu Na | Korea | 216 | 222 | 168 | 1 |
#23 | Hong Sun Hwa | Korea | 220 | 211 | 171 | 2 |
#3 | Victoria Chin | Malaysia | 211 | 182 | 2 | |
#21 | Paola Limon | Mexico | 199 | 153 | 0 | |
#4 | Filippa Persson | Sweden | 222 | 227 | 202 | 1 |
#19 | Amabel Chua | Singapore | 187 | 233 | 219 | 2 |
#5 | Anna Andersson | Sweden | 185 | 213 | 0 | |
#18 | Lee Yeong Seung | Korea | 227 | 275 | 2 | |
#6 | Natasha Roslan | Malaysia | 225 | 189 | 204 | 2 |
#16 | Kim Jin Ju | Korea | 194 | 223 | 199 | 1 |
#7 | Julia Bond | United States | 196 | 200 | 2 | |
#13 | Charlene Lim | Singapore | 182 | 189 | 0 | |
#8 | Nur Syazwani Sahar | Malaysia | 170 | 175 | 0 | |
#11 | Mirai Ishimoto | Japan | 212 | 194 | 2 |
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14th WYC - Boys Masters Round of 24
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format; top 8 received a first-round bye
Seed | Player | Country | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Won-Lost |
#9 | Tun Hakim | Malaysia | 195 | 229 | 2 | |
#24 | Aseel Alroomi | Kuwait | 185 | 165 | 0 | |
#10 | Rafiq Ismail | Malaysia | 200 | 234 | 236 | 2 |
#23 | Youri Fens | Netherlands | 222 | 207 | 201 | 1 |
#11 | Mitch Hupe | Canada | 195 | 203 | 2 | |
#22 | Alex Chong | Singapore | 172 | 203 | 0 | |
#12 | Dylin Hunter | Canada | 246 | 192 | 285 | 2 |
#21 | Alex Yu | Hong Kong | 188 | 242 | 224 | 1 |
#13 | Antonio Florentino | Italy | 223 | 244 | 2 | |
#20 | Muhd Jaris Goh | Singapore | 179 | 200 | 0 | |
#14 | Michael Tang | United States | 251 | 255 | 2 | |
#19 | Ryota Yakuwa | Japan | 170 | 246 | 0 | |
#15 | Cheah Ray Han | Singapore | 184 | 178 | 157 | 1 |
#18 | Massimiliano Fridegotto | Venezuela | 146 | 181 | 186 | 2 |
#16 | Santtu Tahvanainen | Finland | 200 | 163 | 220 | 2 |
#17 | Benjamin Martinez | Mexico | 175 | 186 | 148 | 1 |
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14th WYC - Girls Masters Round of 24
Single-elimination, best-of-three games format; top 8 received a first-round bye
Seed | Player | Country | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Won-Lost |
#9 | Stephanie Schwartz | United States | 198 | 168 | 0 | |
#24 | Veronica Cepeda | Colombia | 220 | 180 | 2 | |
#10 | Jordan Richard | United States | 175 | 178 | 181 | 1 |
#23 | Hong Sun Hwa | Korea | 228 | 150 | 247 | 2 |
#11 | Mirai Ishimoto | Japan | 213 | 218 | 2 | |
#22 | Maribel Orozco | Mexico | 190 | 201 | 0 | |
#12 | Seika Fujiwara | Japan | 190 | 224 | 199 | 1 |
#21 | Paola Limon | Mexico | 195 | 179 | 206 | 2 |
#13 | Charlene Lim | Singapore | 162 | 235 | 245 | 2 |
#20 | Tracy See | Singapore | 187 | 179 | 176 | 1 |
#14 | Keira Reay | England | 122 | 181 | 0 | |
#19 | Amabel Chua | Singapore | 143 | 214 | 2 | |
#15 | Saskia Malz | Germany | 181 | 177 | 0 | |
#18 | Lee Yeong Seung | Korea | 194 | 237 | 2 | |
#16 | Kim Jin Ju | Korea | 213 | 246 | 2 | |
#17 | Raquel Orozco | Mexico | 146 | 191 | 0 |
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