14th April, Bangkok: Michael Mak topped Men's Open Squad A in the third block qualifying round of the 41st MWA Singha Thailand International Open to move into the top 3 bracket and lead six other team-mates into the finals.
Mak, who was fourth after the second block and headed the mixed pool yesterday, shot a stunning 1235 in his third block to move into second overall with a 15-game total 3433. Mak will earn one bye and automatically qualify for Round 3 finals.
Lau Kwun Ho, who was in the top 3 yesterday, returned a lower third block of 1028 to slip out of the top 3 to finish second in the mixed pool with 3307. Eric Tseng made the Round 2 finals 13th in the mixed pool with 3110.
Debutant, Tony Wong improved superbly to finish 14th with 3106. However, there is a good chance Mak will eventually top the standings with one squad left to complete the third block.
Michael Mak topping Squad A to move into second overall
Overnight leader, Naif Oqab of UAE has 2249 from ten games and will need 1086 or more to retain top spot when the left-hander completes his final block later this evening.
Rickle Kam is first in the reserve list based on his average of 200.07 and will be hoping that a few bowlers ahead of him faultered in their third block to slip out of the finals aloowing him to qualify. Two other Hong Kong men, Joshua Chow and Ashley Hui failed to make the cut finishing outside the top 26 of the mixed pool.
Meanwhile, Malaysian women dominated proceedings with Sharon Koh, Sin Li Jane and 2015 Asian Youth Girl's Masters gold medalist, Natasha Roslan occupying the top 3 spots in the overseas pool with 3281, 3276 and 3230 respectively.
The Malaysian women also occupied the top 8 positions in the mixed pool with Esther Cheah heading it with 3218. 2014 ABF Tour TOC winner, Chan Shuk Han was Hong Kong's best women performer in ninth with 2995.
Joan Cheng qualified in 12th position with 2951 joined by Milki Ng in 14th position with 2895. Zoe Tam failed to qualify, managing only 2650.
Qualifiers in the Men's Open mixed pool (26 players) plus top 4 from tonight's desperado squad will bowl six games in Round 2 finals. The field will be cut to 18 and joined by the top 3 local and top 3 overseas qualifiers for another six games in Round 3 finals.
Hong Kong's best women finisher, Chan Shuk Han
The top 6 will advance to the stepladder finals. Qualifiers in the Women's Open mixed pool (18 players) will contest six games in Round 2 finals. The field will be cut to 12 and joined by the top 3 local and top 3 overseas qualifiers for another six games in Round 3 finals. Again the top 6 finishers will proceed to the stepladder finals shootout.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok, Thailand.
Hong Kong national bowler and debutant, Lau Kwun Ho put in a sensational performance in the first block of qualifying round to lead the opening squad of the 41st MWA Singha Thailand International Open.
Lau got off the block with a superb 233 to lead a field of eight men mostly comprising of Hong Kong national bowlers and a sole Malaysian. The Hong Kong lad added another high game of 247 to stretch his lead to 38 pins from team-mate, Eric Tseng.
But Tseng took over the running after rolling a sizzling 253 in the third game as Lau seffered a set back of 196. A third Hong Kong national, Michael Mak moved into third spot after two strong 240s.
Tseng remained in the lead after the fourth game and despite ending with another good game of 222 in the fifth, Lau bounced back brilliantly with a stunning 267 to nick the lead with 1144.
Men's Open Squad A leader, Lau Kwun Ho
Tseng settled for second with 1134, just 10 pins adrift while Mak rounded out the top 3 with 1107. Tony Wong of Hong Kong and Nadzmi Fikri of Malaysia completed the top 5 with 1064 and 1041 respectively.
Meanwhile, Joan Cheng was Hong Kong's best women performer in the opening block after she finished a creditable third with 1103. Dayang Khairuniza and Sharon Koh of Malaysia took first and second spots with 1187 and 1111.
2015 Asian Championships Doubles gold medalist, Syaidatul Afifah of Malaysia took fourth place with 1097 ahead of 2015 Asian Youth Singles Gold medalist, Nora Lyana Natasia of Malaysia completing the top 5 with 1093.
Milki Ng and 2015 ABF Tour TOC winner, Chan Shuk Han ended their first block in 10th and 12th positions while Zoe Tam was last in the field of 16 women.
There are four squads of 24 bowlers each registered comprising of men and women for the championships. Each bowler will bowl three squads of five games each over the next three days. The top 3 local and top 3 overseas qualifiers will earn a bye into Round 3 finals.
Hong Kong's best women finisher, Joan Cheng
Qualifiers positioned 1 to 26 in the Men's Open division and qualifiers positioned 1 to 18 in the Women's Open division will contest the 6 games Round 2 finals. The men's field will be cut to 18 and the women's to 12 to advance to Round 3 finals for another 6 games.
The top 6 men and top 6 women at the end of Round 3 finals will proceed to the stepladder finals with the first match for bowlers seeded 4 to 6 over one game. The winner will meet bowlers seeded 2 to 3 for another game in the second match.
The winner will earn the right to challenge the top seed for the title on a beat-twice format. The men champion will pocket the top prize of 300,000 Thai baht (approx. US$9,500) and the women champion 100,000 Thai baht (approx. US$3,000).
Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok, Thailand.
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