Defending champion leads qualifying
18th March, K.Lumpur: Two-time Singapore national champion, Jazreel Tan set the lanes ablazed as the defending champion registered 745 and 698 for a total of 1443 to lead the Ladies' Open Masters qualifying table of the Canon 32nd Malayian International Open. Although as defending champion, Jazreel would not need to qualify and would feature in the Round 1 Masters finals, the 19-year-old national bowler contested the qulifying rounds to make the top 3 and thereby earning direct entry into Round 2 finals.
Jazreel opened account in her qualifying round with a 278 scorcher but dropped off the pace slightly to down 208 in her second game. But Jazreel bounced back with a good 259 to end the round with 745.
Her subsequent qualifying attempt could not match her earlier round yet she posted a superb 698 with lines of 236, 246 and 216. Her 6-game tally amounted to 1443 which move her to the top of the Ladies' Open Masters standings.
Her team-mate and reigning national champion, Geraldine Ng made the top 3 automatic Round 2 qualifiers in third with two superb series of 742 and 675 for a total of 1417 while Shayna Ng, who was at one stage third in the table, dropped to fifth on 1398. Reigning World Cup champion, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan finished eighth with 1366.
Other Singapore ladies in the finals were Daphne Tan, Cherie Tan and Bernice Lim, occupying fourth to sixth in the mixed pool with 1322, 1317 and 1297 respectively. National veteran, Jennifer Tan was displodged into the first reserves on 1254.
2005 Malaysian Open champion, Siti Safiyah Amirah, Sharon Koh and Shalin Zulkifli occupied the top 3 positions in the local pool with 1442, 1407 and 1403. Former Team USA and PBA pro bowler, Missy Bellinder trailed Jazreel in the overseas pool with 1426.
Singapore was making a lesser impact in the Men's Open table except for the consistent World Champion, Remy Ong. Remy had qualified behind 2006 Singapore Open champion and compatriot, Lee Yu Wen in eighth position on 1367 in the mixed pool.
Determined to make the top 4, Remy registered a superb 774 with lines of 279, 247 and 248 in his first attempt of the day. Confident that he had found his rhythm, Remy followed it up with another superb 740 with lines of 257, 228 and 255.
His two best effort tallied up to 1514 to shoot him up into fourth in the overseas pool and thus earning the Singaporean direct passage into Round 2 finals. Lee dropped one spot to seventh in the mixed pool with 1383.
Mark Wong dropped out of the mixed pool and now second reserve with 1347. Lionel Lim and Jason Yeong-Nathan have yet to make the finals.
The top 4 qualifiers from the local and overseas pool will automatically advance into the Round 2 finals. The remaining 8 qualifiers from the local pool and 8 from the overseas pool will be joined by the defending champion, 13 from the mixed pool and 3 from the desperado squad for Round 1 finals.
The top 25 plus the 8 seeded from the qualifying standings will contest the Round 2 finals where the top 8 will advance into the best-of-3 games elimination knockout rounds on Saturday.
Likewise, the top 3 qualifiers from the local and overseas pool in the Ladies' Open division will also moved directly into Round 2 finals. The remaining 6 qualifiers from the local pool and 6 fro the overseas pool will be joined by the defending champion and 12 fro the mixed pool for Round 1 finals.
The top 21 plus the 6 seeded from the qualifying standings will contest the Round 2 finals where again the top 8 will advance into the best-of-3 games elimination knockout rounds.
Photos by Terence for SBF.