Malaysian southpaw snatches pole
31st May, Singapore: Muhd Nur Aiman of Malaysia, snatched pole position in the Men’s Open Masters standings on the final day of qualifying at the 45th Singapore International Open as southpaws took four of the top 5 spots.
2011 Malaysian Open champion, Muhd Nur Aiman started the 4.30pm squad with a moderate 211 and followed it up with 226 in the second game. The Malaysian southpaw almost registered the first 300 of the championship in his third game.
He made a seemingly perfect 12th and final throw only to see two pins left standing for a big game of 298 to give himself a 735 series and thus improving his 6-game tally to 1413 to take over pole position in the Men’s Open Masters overseas pool.
Korea’s Hong Hae-Sol also improved his total to 1386 to take up third in the table. Overnight leader newly-crowned Euro-Med Storm International Masters Chellenge champion, Alex Liew of Malaysia slipped down to fourth with 1383.
Guangzhou Asian Games multiple gold medalist, Choi Bok-Eum of Korea became the fourth left-hander to occupy the top 5 spots with 1382. Except for Filipino right-hander, Jomar Jumapao denying the lefties with his second place finish with 1392.
Five men made the cut from the 6.00pm squad. Isaac Russell Paul headed this group to take up seventh position with 1375 followed by Jang Dong-Chul of Korea and his team-mate and 2009 World Cup champion, Choi Young-Kyu with 1373 and 1371.
SEA Games bronze medalist, Oscar of Indonesia made the cut fifth in the mixed pool with 1344 while ex-international, Kang Bong Long of Malaysia finished sixth in the same pool with 1343.
The cut stood at 1332 which is being held by Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Chao-Yu with two remaining squads to play. There will be a one-game desperado squad which will be held for the top 3 scorer to join the finals after the last squad.
Overnight leader, Lee Su-Jeong of Korea remained firmly in pole position of the Women’s Open Masters overseas qualifying pool with 1414. Filipina, Lara Posadas improved to take up second spot with 1338.
Jung Da-Wun also notched up an improved 1329 to move into third spot while 2010 Singapore Open champion, Sin Li Jane got out of the mixed pool to finish fourth with 1304 joined by her team-mate, Siti Safiyah completin gthe top 5 with 1298.
There were no changes in the local pool with newly-crowned Youth Girls Open Masters champion, Joey Yeo Ruoqi in pole with 1369 followed by New Hui Fen and Amanda Ng second and third with 1335 and 1322 respectively.
The current cut off mark is held by newly-crowned Malaysian Open champion, Zandra Aziela of Malaysia ninth position in mixed pool with 1247.
The top 42 men and top 30 women will bowl two blocks of Masters finals, first over 10 games and second block over 6 games. The top 4 men and top 4 women will advance to the stepladder shootout finals on June 2.Photos by Terence Yaw.