Finals assured for Singaporean
15th April, Bangkok: Remy Ong of Singapore assured himself a place in the Men's Open Stage 1 finals of the 37th MWA Thailand International Open after taking up tenth in the overseas pool with an improved qualifying round on Friday. Remy Ong had squeezed into the Stage 1 finals in seventh in the mixed pool last night with a 9-game total of 1892 but with the qualifying round heating up furiously on the final day, several competitors made progress and gradually pushed down the Singaporean into 12th position by midday.
Sensing danger, the 32-year-old who successfully defended the Saudi Open two weeks ago in Riyadh, took to the lanes in an attempt to improve his lowest series of 605.
Coping well with the insense pressure, Ong delivered his goods to fire a superb 680 series to give himself a new total of 1966 and moved up into tenth in the overseas pool. His effort will surely secure a place in the Stage 1 finals tomorrow.
Meanwhile, his team-mates were less fortunate and still struggling in extremely tough conditions at S.F. Strike Bowl. Benjamin Lim managed 1731 to take up 22nd in the reserve pool.
Basil Low finished one spot below Benjamin in 23rd place with a total of 1728. Any series above the 650-mark would give them a chance to squeeze in.
The top 3 qualifiers in the overseas pool were 2009 AMF World Cup champion, Choi Yong-Kyu of Korea and his team-mate, Kim Byung-Suk and Kuwait's Mohammed Kamel with 2062, 2036 and 2030 respectively.
The top 3 in the local pool were Dechochai Tinjiratip, Yannaphon Larpapharat and Phumin Klanbida with 2043, 2024 and 2020 respectively. The six would be seeded for the Stage 2 finals.
In the ladies' open division, Daphne Tan improved her total with a superb 627 series for a new 9-game total of 1787 to make the cut fourth in the mixed pool. Jasmine Yeong-Nathan is fifth in the reserve pool with 1713 and 27 pins from the cut.
New Hui Fen is seventh with 1702 and both the Singaporeans have a decent chance of making the finals if they can improve one of their lowest series.
Korean women dominate the overseas pool with a one-two finish. Newly-crowned Youth Open Masters champion, Jun Gwi-Ae of Dae Jeon City topped the table with 1955 ahead of Lee Na-Young in second with 1870.
China's Zhang Yuhong dislodged Indonesia's Putty Armein for the third spot with 1864 to earn the bye for Stage 2 finals.
There will be an additional place available for the women as Indonesia's Tannya Roumimper will not be defending her title due to studies commiment in the United States.
Detailed scores: Men's Open Qualifying | Ladies' Open Qualifying | Photo Album.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.