Singaporean eying first 2012 title
28th May, Singapore: National bowler, New Hui Fen is eying for her first title this year after an inspired display to top the Women’s Open Masters qualifying table of the 45th Singapore International Open.
After capturing the 2011 Indonesia Open title in July last year, New Hui Fen followed it up by winning two silver medals in the World Women Championship in Hong Kong in September. Hui Fen ended a good year by bagging a gold and bronze medal at the SEA Games in Jakarta in November.
Her first international assignment was the 35th Canon Malaysian International Open but Hui Fen was unable to make any headway despite qualifying for the finals and advancing into Stage 2 finals.
Hui Fen, who turned 19 in January, will be hoping to return to the winning circle with a good performance after topping the Women’s Open Masters qualifying table with 1335. Kristel Oh finished second with 1312 followed by Amanda Ng third with 1307.
Other Singapore title contenders were Jasmine Yeong-Nathan (4th-1289), Cherie Tan (5th-1288), Shayna Ng (6th-1239), Geraldine Ng (7th-1233), Bernice Lim (8th-1230), Jazreel Tan (9th-1229) and Ilma Nur Jannah (10th-1175).Meanwhile, national bowler Basil Low, who became the only qualifier to break the 1,400-mark, rolled 720 and 717 for a 1437 total to lead the Men’s Open Masters qualifying table since the opening day on May 22.
Apart from winning the Masters gold and a silver medal at the 2009 Asian Youth Games, Basil has done little to justify his promotion into the eilte squad of the men’s national team. The 19-year-old did show a glimsp of his prowess when he rolled a perfect game in the 2009 Malaysian Open but failed to qualify.
At this year’s Malaysian Open, Basil made the finals as well as advanced into the Stage 2 finals but managed only to finish 22nd position. The Singaporean will be hoping to put in a better display on home ground.
Joel Tan Eng An did well to take up second in the standings with 1381 followed by Justin Lim Chia Loong third with 1378.
Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge first runner-up and reigning national champion, Remy Ong slipped down to fourth after occupying second spot with 1372 for several days while Jason Yeong-Nathan rounded up the top 5 with 1321.
Malaysian Open first runner-up, Mark Wong finished 10th with 1293 ahead of his team-mate and Malaysian Open second runner-up, Keith Saw in 11th position with 1289.
The majority of the overseas bowlers from Australia, China, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand will arrive Sunday and today and they will be taking to the lanes for their qualifying rounds.
Qualifying will continue for the next four days and the Open Masters finals will be contested on June 1 and 2. The Youth Open Masters finals will be staged on May 31.
Photos by Terence Yaw.