In his very first international tournament in his very first competition for Team USA, Hammer Bowling's Bill O'Neill is destroying the field having already netted a gold medal win at the 2009 Pan American Bowling Confederation Championships.

In a record-breaking performance Sept. 22, O'Neill totaled 1,475 ” that is games of 229, 204, 238, 279, 249 and 279, an average of 246 ” in the men's single event at Carolina Bowling Center in Puerto Rico, shattering the record of 1,428, which was set in 2001 by Canada's Danyck Briere.

O'Neill joined Team USA in January after a solid performance on the Professional Bowler's Tour, but didn't hit the lanes planning to win his first international event right out of the gate.

“I really didn't plan on winning the first event,” he said. “But hopefully this is a sign of things to come for the rest of the week.”

Competition in the 2009 PABCON Competitions continues Sept. 23 with the doubles event.

Based in Hopkinsville, Ky., Hammer Bowling is an Ebonite International brand. Ebonite International is a privately-owned company that currently services bowling centers, distributors and retail outlets both domestically and internationally. For more information, visit www.ebonite.com or www.hammerbowling.com.