By Matt Cannizzaro
USBC Communications

SUNRISE, Fla. - After a relaxing day off at Fort Lauderdale Beach, United States Bowling Congress Team USA member Cory Simmons of Wichita, Kan., returned to the Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas refreshed and focused.

Simmons started Tuesday's mixed doubles competition with 22 strikes in his first 24 shots for games of 296 and 299, never looking back as he teamed up with Amanda Burgoyne of Newport, Minn., to take the mixed doubles crown with a record-breaking 2,768 six-game total. The pair topped the previous mark of 2,731 posted by Team USA's Lynda Barnes and Gordon Vadakin in 1989.

"It was a real honor breaking the record because Lynda and Gordon are both amazing bowlers," Burgoyne said. "It really gives me goose bumps to think about it. Going into the last game we were just focused on making sure we got the gold. We had no idea we were even close to the record. "

After his first bid for perfection fell short with the 3-6-7-9 still standing, Simmons opened the second game with 11 more strikes before a 6-pin came between him and the first 300 game of the 2005 event. Simmons finished the first half of the six-game set with a 227 for an 822 effort, just 11 pins shy of the tournament record, 833, posted by Team USA's Rhino Page at the 2004 event at Cloverleaf Lanes in Miami.

"I was relaxed going in, but I knew we had to bowl our best because the competition is so tough," Simmons said. "I got a little fast on the last shot the first game, but I knew I had to keep making good shots and couldn't let up. I think not shooting 300 really helped because it allowed us to keep going without relaxing too much."

The 22-year-old senior at Newman University in Wichita ended the day with games of 220, 260 and 223 for a 1,525 total, while Burgoyne added 1,243. Alejandro Cruz and Adriana Perez of Mexico finished second with 2,589, while Canada's Lorry Ho and Isabelle Rioux were third with 2,579. Team USA's Stefanie Nation of Miami and Dan Patterson of Phoenix finished seventh with 2,330.

"It always feels great to have a day like this," Simmons said. "We both bowled well today and the pins just fell our way. Overall, we are having a great time. Competing for our country is something we've all dreamed of doing, and to win the gold medal just tops it off."