Ten years and counting…

Junior Gold alumni making it big

It's been 10 years since the Junior Gold program was launched to help high-average youth bowlers hone their skills and have greater chances for success as they advanced to collegiate and adult bowling competitions. Has Junior Gold proved to be the training ground for high achievers in the sport? Check out these Junior Gold alumni success stories and decide for yourself.

	Diandra Asbaty, age 27, Chicago Diandra is the 2004 and 2007 World Ranking Masters champion, the 2006 Qubica/AMF World Cup champion, and the 1999 and 2006 U.S. Amateur champion. She's been a member of Junior Team USA in 2001 and 2002 and Team USA from 1999 through 2007 and has won 27 gold, 13 silver and eight bronze medals in international competitions, including Masters gold at both the 2003 and 2007 Women's World Championships. Although she finished 22nd at the 2007 U.S. Women's Open and missed earning an exemption for the 2007 PBA Women's Series, her status as second alternate allowed her to replace ailing athletes Wendy Macpherson and Robin Romeo to compete in and win the final event in the series, the Great Lakes Classic.
	Amanda Burgoyne, age 23, Newport, Minn. As member of Junior Team USA from 2003 through 2006 and Team USA from 2004 through 2007, Amanda earned 13 gold medals, six silver and three bronze medals in international competition. She finished 10th in the qualifying rounds of the 2007 U.S. Women's Open to appear in the televised quarterfinals, where she fell to Lynda Barnes 205-196. She was a member of the 2004 and 2005 NCAA women's national championship team (Nebraska) and was named the 2005 NCAA Women's National Collegiate Bowling Championships Most Valuable Player.
	Melissa Bellinder, age 26, Fullerton, Calif. The 1998 U.S. Junior Amateur champion at what is now known as the USBC Junior Gold Championships, Missy earned spots on Junior Team USA for 1999 through 2001 and Team USA in 2000 and 2001. The Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow award winner in 2001, Missy earned international gold medals at FIQ American Zone tournaments. She bowled competitively for Cal-State Fullerton and was Bowler of the Year in 2003. She also broke tradition and made history as the MVP at the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships in the Men’s Division that year. The first female to become a PBA member, Missy is one of three women to win a PBA Regional Tour title and is the only woman to win two PBA Regional Tour titles. Her 14th place finish at the 2007 U.S. Women's Open earned her an exemption in the 2007 PBA Women's Series.
	Joy Esterson, age 27, Annapolis, Md. Joy was a member of Junior Team USA in 2003 and Team USA in 2004. A bowler on the 2000 and 2002 National Collegiate Championship winning teams at Morehead State University, Joy earned honorable mention in the 2000 College Bowler of the Year voting. She was a third team All-American in 2000 and second team All-American in 2002, when she was also voted Bowler of the Year runner-up. Joy finished 18th at the 2007 U.S. Women's Open and 14th in the 2007 PBA Women’s Tour Trials to earn an exemption in the 2007 PBA Women's Series. She won the 2007 Lake County Indiana Classic, the third of the four events in the series.
	P.J. Haggerty, age 22, Clovis, Calif. A Junior Team USA member from 2004 through 2006 and a 2007 Team USA member, P.J. earned one gold, two silver and a bronze medal in international competition. The 2006 USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships men's national champion, he was named both the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Most Valuable Player and the Collegiate Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07). Since last fall the 2004 Chuck Hall Star of Tomorrow has been competing in the Denny's PBA Tournament Qualifying Rounds.
	Chris Loschetter, age 27, Olmstead Falls, Ohio A Junior Team USA member in 2000 and 2001, Chris won one gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 FIQ Juvenile American Zone Tournament. A former collegiate bowler for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and later for Florida State University, he joined the Denny's Professional Bowlers Association Tour in 2003. Although he's still looking for his first Tour title, he's made the Tour's TV finals seven times and has cashed in 67 of 77 events. In 2007-08 he averaged 218.25 and won $84,776 in pro competition, including the $25,000 he earned for his third-place finish at the 2008 U.S. Open.
	Stefanie Nation, age 24, Miami The U.S. Junior Amateur champion in 2003, 2004 and 2005, Stef was a member of Junior Team USA in 2000 and 2004 through 2006 and a member of Team USA from 2005 through 2007. She bowled for Central Florida University, where she was the Collegiate Player of the Year in 2006. After her team finished as runner-up in the 2006 Intercollegiate Team Championships, she was named the 2005-06 National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Most Valuable Player. A three-time NCBCA All-American including two-time First Team member, Stef now coaches for CFU. She finished ninth in the qualifying rounds of the 2007 U.S. Women's Open to beat Wendy Macpherson 184-181 in the televised quarterfinals but fell to Shannon O'Keefe 299-159 in the televised semifinals. Her seventh-place finish in the 2007 PBA Women’s Tour Trials earned her an exemption for the 2007 PBA Women's Series.
	Rhino Page, age 24, San Diego Winner of the Masters gold medal at the 2007 Men's American Zone Championships, where he also earned team gold and all-events bronze medals, Rhino has been a member of Team USA since 2004 and was on Junior Team USA in 2001 and 2002. The 2005 U.S. Amateur champion was also a member of the Kansas Jayhawks team that captured the 2004 Intercollegiate Bowling Championships. Since pro bowlers are now allowed on Team USA, Rhino joined the PBA in 2007, competed in the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Rounds and made history with a rookie record of advancing to five televised championship rounds. He earned an exemption for the 2008-09 season by winning his first PBA title March 9th at the Go RVing Classic in Norwich, Conn. As of this writing, he's a shoo-in to be named PBA's Rookie of the Year for 2007-08.
	Shannon Pluhowsky, age 25, Phoenix This 2006 USBC Queens champion is an eight-time member of Team USA (2001-2008) and was a member of Junior Team USA from 2000 through 2003. She's the only woman to become the U.S. Junior Amateur champion three years in a row (1999-2001) and follow with earning the U.S. Amateur champion title for the next three years (2002-2004). Among Shannon's many international achievements are her 2002 and 2004 World Cup Champion titles and her gold-medal singles performance at the 2003 Pan American Games. She was named the 2004 United States Olympic Committee Bowler of the Year. Competing for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she helped her team win the 2001 Intercollegiate Bowling Championships as well as the 2004 and 2005 NCAA women's national championship. Named the 2004 Bowlers Journal Female Bowler of the Year, Shannon finished sixth in the qualifying rounds of the U.S. Women's Open, advancing to the televised quarterfinals where she fell to eventual tournament winner Liz Johnson 226-193. Her fourth-place finish in the 2007 PBA Women’s Tour Trials earned her exemption in the 2007 PBA Women's Series. She won the 2007 Etonic Championship, the second of the four events.
	Olivia Sandham, age 23, Wichita, Kan. Olivia won her 2002 U.S. Junior Amateur champion title at what is now known as the USBC Junior Gold Championships. She was a member of Junior Team USA from 2002 through 2004 and a member of Team USA in 2004 and 2006. Olivia finished third in the 2003 USBC Queens and bowled collegiately for Wichita State University, where she was a three-time All-American and helped her team win the 2005 Intercollegiate Team Championships. Her 16th place finish in the qualifying rounds of the 2007 U.S. Women's Open earned her a spot in the televised quarterfinals, where she fell to Shannon O'Keefe 247-209. She finished 12th in the 2007 PBA Women’s Tour Trials to earn her exemption in the 2007 U.S. Women's Open.
	Amy Rocco Stolz, age 28, Castle Rock, Colo. Amy was a member of 1999 Junior Team USA, the first national youth team determined by performance at what's now called the USBC Junior Gold Championships. She won gold medals at the 1998 FIQ American Zone Championships and the 1998 FIQ World Youth Championships. The 2001 Alberta E. Crowe Star of Tomorrow award-winner bowled collegiately for Arizona State, was a collegiate All-American in 1999 and 2000, and was named the 2001 Intercollegiate Bowling Championships MVP. The three-time Colorado State All-Events Champion also won the 2007 Ebonite Challenge. After her 15th-place finish in the qualifying rounds of the 2007 U.S. Women's Open, Amy faced Michelle Feldman in the televised quarterfinals and lost in a heart-breaker, 211-209. Her 11th place finish in the 2007 PBA Women’s Tour Trials netted her an exemption for the 2007 PBA Women's Series.

How to become a Junior Gold bowler

First, practice your strike ball and spare shooting so you can reach the Junior Gold program's minimum average requirement: 175 for boys or 165 for girls. This average must be achieved in a certified USBC Youth league.

Second, fill out the Junior Gold Membership Application and submit it, along with proof of your average and the $30 Junior Gold membership fee to the address on the form. As of Aug. 1, 2008, USBC Junior Gold membership will be valid for the current bowling season (Aug. 1 – July 31). Once Junior Gold membership is attained, Junior Gold privileges are yours even if your average dips below the minimum requirement. Junior Gold membership includes a free Sport Bowling upgrade of your USBC Youth membership.

Once you're a USBC Junior Gold member, you'll be eligible to compete in Junior Gold qualifying events to earn your entry into the USBC Junior Gold Championships. Many Junior Gold qualifying events offer scholarship awards, and they all offer competition opportunities test your physical and mental game skills.