HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — In a tournament featuring the world’s best professional and amateur bowlers, former Barrigada resident Keith Guerrero survived three days of qualification and advanced to the main bracket.
Over the course of five days, while competing in the 2024 United States Bowling Congress Masters in Las Vegas, Nevada, the 33-year-old postal customer service supervisor delivered the performance of a lifetime. In what is touted as the sport’s most prestigious event, on par with golf’s Masters or tennis’ Wimbledon, Guerrero placed 13th overall.
In the round of 64, the first round of three-game bracketed matches, Guerrero defeated former Team USA standout Steve Kloempken 685-503. In the round of 32, Guerrero ousted Frank Testa 673-601. Guerrero, in the round of 16, faced Sam Cooley, one of the world’s top-ranked bowlers and someone he had played before in international competition.
“Bowling against Sam Cooley brought me back to bowling for Guam. He would always be bowling for Australia,” Guerrero said. “I felt a little pressure, more being to not let anyone down. I wanted to win for Guam.”
In his head-to-head match against Cooley, played on lanes 41 and 42 at Suncoast Bowling Center, Cooley defeated Guerrero 718-597.
Guerrero, after the loss to Cooley, defeated AJ Chapman 664-619, then, in the double-elimination format, lost to Tyler Cortez Schenck 655-644.
“I’m pleased with my finish. Most of these bowlers do this for a living, so to be able to compete and win against some of them, it’s a win in my book,” Guerrero said.
Guerrero told The Guam Daily Post that his goals for the tournament were to bowl his best and advance to the bracket rounds.
“Once I made the bracket, it was all about luck of the draw. And, unfortunately, I drew some hard matches,” he said.
Keith Guerrero finished 13th in the United States Bowling Congress Masters March 29, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
