Leaders stretch lead
28th May, Singapore: National bowlers, Benjamin Lim Jia Jun and Daphne Tan stretched their lead in the Men's and Women's Open Masters qualifying standings of the 44th Singapore International Open to remain atop the leaderboard on Saturday. Benjamin Lim, who had topped the Men's Open Masters table with 1315, notched up a better second-best series of 685 to add to his best 695 for a new total of 1380 and remained firmly in the lead.
2005 champion and ex-national, Jack Wong trailed in second by 72 pins on a total of 1308 as Justim Lim Chun Liang hauled himself into third spot in the standings with 1243. Basile Low and Chiam Yew Koon rounded up the top 5 with 1232 and 1221.
The men's scores will definitely increase substantially as many of Singapore's national bowlers, who are competing in the 34th Canon Malaysian International Open, return Monday, May 30.
Bowlers from Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Philippines, Qatar, Thailand, UAE and USA are also expected to converge at Orchid Bowl for their qualifying rounds.
Meanwhile, leader Daphne Tan also stretched her lead in the Women's Open Masters table from 1225 to 1248 followed by her elder sister and EBT Masters champion, Cherie Tan in second with 1229.
Guangzhou Asian Games bronze medalist, New Hui Fen slipped down to third on 1212 ahead of Amanda Ng in fourth and Teo Li Ying fifth with 1196 and 1110 respectively.
Singapore will see for the first time, two-time US major title winner, Kelly Kulick of USA competing when she ends her defence of the 34th Canon Malaysian International Open Women's title she won last year.
Qualifying will run through to June 2 and the Open Masters finals will be staged on June 3 and 4. The Stepladder finals will be broadcast LIVE via Starhub SuperSports Arena (channel 201) on Saturday, 4 June 2011.
Photos by Terence Yaw.