A superb display in Round 1

31st May, Singapore: Shayna Ng completed the Women’s Open Round 1 Masters finals of the 46th Singapore International Open by finishing first ahead of two strong Malaysian opponents, Shalin Zulkifli and Esther Cheah in second and third.
Not the best of start for Shayna though when she managed only 154 and 186 in her two opening games as team-mate, Joey Yeo Ruoqi took an early lead before Malaysia’s four-time national champion, Shalin Zulkifli moved into the front.

Shalin’s lead lasted only one game as Jun Gwi-Ae of Daejeon Metropolitan City, Korea surged ahead of the pack followed by another Malaysian, Esther Cheah trailing by 17 pins in second.

The Korean continued her relentless pace and kept the lead until Shayna recovered from her slow start to fire 226, 242, 256, 224 and 231 in her nixt five games to grab the lead.

The Singaporean rounded off a superb round with 216, 222 and 234 for the 10-game total 2191. Jun faded off to finish fifth while Shalin clinched second spot with 2139, 52 pins adrift.

  
“I had a poor start and even though I made changes thereafter, I still couldn’t get going well,” said the 23-year-old Shayna who stunned the world by capturing the 2012 AMF World Cup in Poland last year.
“I made more changes and checked my timing and fortunately, I managed to knocked down good games to haul myself back into contention. The lanes are quite tricky tough and with so many good Malaysians and Koreans here, I have to be on my toes tomorrow if I were to do well.

“My last stepladder appearance was in 2007 but did not progress after the first match. I’m determined to do well and hopefully I can make it through all the way,” added Shayna.

2012 Hong Kong Open and Daejeon Open champion, Esther Cheah stayed closed with the leaders to finish third with 2074 followed by a third Malaysian, Zandra Aziela fourth with 2068.

Pace-setter, Jun ended in fifth position with 2065 while three-time Collegiate Bowler of the Year, Jazreel Tan of Singapore, 2012 Thailand Open champion, Kim Min-Hee of Daejeon, Korea and Bernice Lim of Singapore taking up sixth to eighth positions.
Other Singaporeans, Daphne Tan, New Hui Fen and Geraldine Ng finished 11th to 13th while 13 other Singapore women struggled in this round. The bowlers will resume with their second round over another 6 games before cutting down to just the top 4 advancing to the stepladder finals.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Singapore.