Pluhowsky in Fifth Place at Bowling World Cup

Tegucigalpa, Honduras - University of Nebraska bowler Shannon Pluhowsky (Phoenix, Ariz.) stands in fifth place after the first round of competition at the AMF Bowling World Cup in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, late Sunday evening.

Pluhowsky, the defending Bowling World Cup champion and two-time U.S. Amateur champion, finished the first evening of competition with a total pinfall of 1,048 though five games, an average of 209.60. She trails the tournament leader, Marie Ramirez of Costa Rica, by 87 pins after the first of four days of qualifying. Laura Rhoney of Scotland is second with 1,124 pins and a 224.8 average, followed by Japan's Hiroko Shimizu (1,117 pins) and Jojo Canare of the Philippines (1,093) in the 62-bowler field.

Pluhowsky, who is seeking to become only the second bowler - male or female - in the tournament's 38-year history to repeat as champion, did not trail after any round during the 2002 Bowling World Cup, increased her average throughout the competition en route to her title.

The tournament continues Monday evening with competition running through Oct. 4.

Tournament Leaders (Through Five Games)
1, Marie Ramirez , Costa Rica, 1135 pins, 227.00 average. 2, Laura Rhoney, Scotland, 1124, 224.80. 3, Hiroko Shimizu, Japan, 1117, 223.40. 4, Jojo Canare, Philippines, 1093, 218.60. 5, Shannon Pluhowsky , USA, 1048, 209.60. 6, Astrid Carlin, Peru, 1038, 207.60. 7, Ann Maree Putney, Australia, 1036, 207.20. 8, Smirnova Tatiana, Russia, 1024, 204.80. 9, Tere Piccini Healey , Mexico, 1014, 202.80. 10, Donna Adams, England, 1006, 201.20. 11, Aumi Guerra, Dominican Republic, 1005, 201.00. 12, Sara Vargas, Colombia, 996, 199.20. 13, Kerrie Ryan-Ciach, Canada, 990, 198.00. 14, Tracey Aubert, Jersey, 983, 196.60. 15, Ross Greiner, Netherlands, 982, 196.40. 16, Vanessa Fung, Hong Kong, 976, 195.20. 17, Martina Beckel, Germany, 973, 194.60. 18, Linda Haglund, Sweden, 969, 193.80. 19 (tie) Edna Maduro, Aruba, and Tiia Einola, Finland, 966, 193.20. 21, Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia, 964, 192.80. 22, Joanne Johnson, Guernsey, 963, 192.60. 23, Lyn Black, N Ireland, 959, 191.80. 24, Beatrix Pesek, Hungary, 955, 191.00. 25, Rina Pinto, South Africa, 950, 190.00. 26, Evelyn Chan Lu Ee, Singapore, 949, 189.80. 27, Sofia Granda, Guatemala, 941, 188.20. 28 (tie) Pauline Maxwell, Isle of Man, Sabeena Athica, India, and Iben Tchu, Denmark, 938, 187.60. 31, Yvette Chen, Panama, 937, 187.40. 32, Marianne Hauk?s, Norway, 935, 187.00. 33, Bigi Manico, Switzerland, 932, 186.40. 34, Laura Cavazzini, Italy, 929, 185.80. 35, Aida Granillo, El Salvador, 927, 185.40. 36 (tie) Ulle Kangur, Estonia, and Cristina Mas, Spain, 915, 183.00. 38 (tie) Luiza Rocha, Brazil, and Miriam Michelle Ayala, Puerto Rico, 910, 182.00. 40, Liliane Vintens, Belgium, 901, 180.20. 41 (tie) Doris Szvasztics, Austria, and Jacqueline Boissiere, France, 899, 179.80. 43, Theresa Depka, Virgin Islands, 893, 178.60. 44, Margalit Mizrachi, Venezuela, 891, 178.20. 45, Rahma Mubarak Al Sharqi , UAE, 885, 177.00. 46, Elisabeth Girier-Dufournier, Martinique, 880, 176.00. 47, Yonit Cohen, Israel, 865, 173.00. 48, Filomena Choi, Macau, 850, 170.00. 49, Maria Elena Breve Ferrari, Honduras, 848, 169.60. 50, Joanne Woodside-Powell, Bahamas, 826, 165.20. 51, Marina Guseva, Armenia, 821, 164.20. 52, Stepanka Stelcigova, Czech Republic, 818, 163.60. 53, Elena Poulitsidou , Greece, 809, 161.80. 54, Yelena Zemtsova, Kazakhstan, 807, 161.40. 55, Beata Szostak, Poland, 802, 160.40. 56, Mariana Furchi, Argentina, 797, 159.40. 57, Carmen Bolanos , Nicaragua, 782, 156.40. 58, Daniele Honigstein, Morocco, 748, 149.60. 59, Sonia Anagui, Tunisia, 737, 147.40. 60, Anastasiya Kuprijanova, Uzbekistan, 686, 137.20. 61, Charly Clark, Gibraltar, 672, 134.40. 62, Selamawit Wolde-Giorgis Tefera, Ethiopia, 0, 0.00.