Singapore women in the hunt for title
28th September, Singapore: Singapore women keglers gave a good account of themselves after keeping close to the leaders in the first block of the Women's Open Masters finals of the 40th Singapore International Open Friday evening. 2005 National champion, Jasmine Yeong-Nathan took an early leady up to the halfway mark when the pace got too hot for her to handle and eventually finished a creditable fourth, just 24 pins from the joint leaders, Zatil Iman and Wendy Chai of Malaysia.
Newly-crowned ABF Tour Hong Kong leg champion and current Asian Ranked No. 1, Kim Eun Jung of Korea opened account with a superb 280 in the opening game, 12 pins ahead of Singapore's Jasmine Yeong-Nathan in second.
Jasmine then knocked down 236, 233 and 245 to take over the lead from game 2 onwards with Malaysia's Sharon Koh hot on her heels just 5 pins adrift. Malaysia's Zatil Iman then fired a 256 to take over the lead from Sharon after the fifth game.
Zatil continued to lead while two-time Singapore Open champion, Wendy Chai made her move going after the top 3 leaders with 279, 222 and 246 in the fifth to seventh games whle Sharon Koh also kept close to Zatil.
Apart from Zatil ending on a 201, Wendy posted 279 to draw level at 1849 to share pole position in the first block. Kim knocked down 244 to claim third spot with 1829 while Jasmine did well to bring home a 239 to clinch fourth on 1825.
Sharon dropped to fifth on 1807, just 1 pin ahead of Geraldine Ng in fifth with 1806. With less than 50 pins separating the top 6, the second block promises to be hotly contested for a place in the stepladder finals.
The women will continue their second at 12.00 noon after the men commence their second block at 9.00am Saturday, September 29.
Photos by Terence Yaw.