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Stefanie Nation: Singles Gold
7/30/2009By Matt CannizzaroLAS VEGAS - Team USA's Stefanie Nation claimed the first gold medal of the 2009 World Tenpin Bowling Association World Women's Championships on Thursday night and Hwang Sun-Ok and Gang Hye-Eun of Korea followed suit with doubles gold shortly after.
Nation topped Mexico's Sandra Gongora, 167-131, at Cashman Center to defend the title won by her Team USA teammate Shannon O'Keefe at the 2007 WTBA World Women's Championships in Monterrey, Mexico.
Gongora, who earned her way into the championship match with a 258-209 semifinal win over Denmark's Anja Ginge Jensen, quickly lost her momentum and left three washouts and three splits in the loss to Nation. "All it comes down to is making good shots because I can't control what my opponent is doing," said Nation, who was the top seed after six qualifying games and defeated Finland's Krista Pollanen, 220-195, in the semifinals. "You never know what's going to happen, so you have to stay focused and aggressive. It was a funky pair, and neither of us could really get anything going. I was fortunate to come out ahead."
Nation became just the third American woman to claim singles gold at the World Women's Championships, joining O'Keefe and Kelly Kulick (1999). Jensen and Pollanen each earned bronze medals Thursday.
"The feeling is incredible, but I'm really at a loss for words right now," said Nation, who earned silver medals in team at the World Championships in 2005 and 2007. "I don't know if it will sink in until I hear the national anthem, but right now, it feels unbelievable."
