The Dayton resident was in the hunt for an unprecedented third women’s World Cup title after winning the international event in 2002 and 2004.
“A few of us have won it twice, but no one has won it three times,” Pluhowsky said.
As the defending champion, Guerrero wanted to join that elite company. The Colombian started strong, doubling twice late in the first game to beat Pluhowsky 202-177.
Guerrero maintained the momentum early in the second game, rattling off five straight strikes and jumping out to a 20-pin lead. Pluhowsky closed the gap but was edged 243-238 for the title in the best-of-three final.
“It was a tough final,” Guerrero said. “Shannon is such a tough competitor, and I knew if I could only get in front I would stand a chance.”
All competitors at the World Cup bowled 24 qualifying games over three days before the field was cut to the top 24 for eight additional games. The 32-game pinfall totals determined the eight players for the round-robin match-play portion with the top three advancing to the stepladder finals.
Pluhowsky, third heading into stepladder finals, faced Bulanova in the semifinals. After two games, it was knotted 1-1. Trailing late in the third game, the Dayton bowler made a big change.
“I switched balls in the seventh frame,” she said. “I had to do it and I hoped it would work.”
And it did, as Pluhowsky edged her Russian rival 238-194.
International competition isn’t over for Pluhowsky, who will compete at the World Women’s Bowling Championships in Abu Dhabi from Dec. 5-14. She will be joined by fellow Team USA bowlers Liz Johnson, Stefanie Johnson, Kelly Kulick, Danielle McEwan and Shannon O’Keefe. All but McEwan competed at the last World Women’s Championships in Henderson, Nevada in 2013.
After the World Cup and a summer packed with PWBA events, Pluhowsky and her teammates are ready.
“We’ve all been bowling all summer so everyone is sharp,” she said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
And gold medals definitely increase the fun factor.
“We go to win,” Pluhowsky said.
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