Five Singapore men makes Masters finals

27th March, K.Lumpur: Five Singapore national men made the Masters finals of the Canon 31st Malaysian International Open as 2005 National champion, Jason Yeong-Nathan stormed into the lead in the overseas pool.  Jason Yeong-Nathan, who had failed to make an impact in all his previous attempts to qualify the whole week with a best effort of 865, put up a sizzling performance on the final crunch to chalk up 1043.

The 2006 Asian Championship Doubles gold medalist started with 238 then set the lanes ablazed with back-to-back 279s and then rounding off with 247 to storm into pole positon in the overseas pool. Jason's efforts also earned him a bye into Round 3 as topseed.

Finland's Mika Luoto, Hong Kong's duo of Cyrus Cheung and Wu Siu Hong will join Jason for Round 3 after finishing second to fourth. Singapore's youngster, Mark Wong will move straight to Round 2 instead for finishing sixth together with fifth-placed Bazel Al_anzi of Kuwait, seventh-placed Joonee Gatchalian of Philippines and eighth-placed Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia.

The top 4 from the local pool moving to Round 3 is led by topseed, Zulmazran Zulkifli, who shot the tournament's third perfect game while Zaid Izlan will lead the fifth to eighth-placed qualifiers into Round 2.

Singapore's two other men qualifiers are Remy Ong, who managed to squeeze in his final qualifying attempt, to take up 11th and 23rd overall. Shaun Ng Qenn was the remaining Singaporean to qualify in 36th position. Both will play in Round 1 finals.

The rest of the qualifiers will have to battle it out in the 6-game Round 1 finals where the top 8 will qualify for Round 2 together with the 4th to 8th seeded qualifiers. Another 6-games will be played and again the top 8 finishers will proceed to Round 3 together with the 1st to 4th seeded qualifiers.

 

Meanwhile, Singapore's duo of Jazreel Tan and Amanda Ng also confirmed their spots in Round 3 finishing first and third with 934 and 928 respectively and is joined by Chinese Taipei's Wang Yu-Ling, who finished second with 932.

Teo Li Ying of Singapore, newcomer, Dyan Caronacion of the Philippines and Jasmine Yeong-Nathan made Round 2 after taking up fourth to sixth positions. The rest have to contest their Round 1 tomorrow.

Jennifer Tan, Geraldine Ng and last year's first runnerup, Daphne Tan of Singapore also made the finals in 19th, 24th and 27th positions respectively but will have to first pass the Round 1 hurdle and finish in the top 8 to join their teammates in Round 2.

Malaysia's Zatil Iman, who shot to the front of the local pool will lead overnight leader, Sharon Koh and Siti Safiyh Amirah into Round 3. Syakirah Yeoh, defending champion, Zandra Aziela and Norhanizah Abu Bakar finished fourth to sixth to get a by into Round 2.

 

Photos by B.C. Cheah, MTBC.