BREWER – A Canadian competitor is $3,000 richer after winning the singles knockout of the World Team Candlepin Bowling Championship at the Bangor-Brewer Bowling Lanes Monday.

Mike Hall of St. John, New Brunswick, defeated Bob Whitcomb of Scituate, Mass., in the final match 184-100 to win the knockout.

Whitcomb was the top qualifier with a 716 score for five strings. A record 121 entries had to bowl five strings to qualify for the round of 32 in the knockout. The bowlers were then matched according to their qualifying score and one-string elimination matches followed.

Shane Tripp of Bridgeton turned in the best qualifying score for a Maine bowler with a 691, but lost in the round of 16 to John Zappi of Quincy, Mass., 140-124.

Brewer bowler Shawn Morrison advanced to the elite eight, but was defeated there by Whitcomb 142-118.

Other Maine bowlers qualifying for the knockout included Chip Carson (14th) of Bangor and Mark Smith (9th) of Auburn. They both lost in the first round.

The 24-team tourney begins today at 9 a.m. and features competitors from the Canadian provinces and New England states. Teams bowl three, three-string matches each day with the playoffs beginning Friday and the semifinals and championship on Saturday.