American Kelly Kulick, the first woman to win a PBA Tour title earlier this year, again showed her supremacy at the 33rd CANON MALAYSIAN INTERNATIONAL OPEN. She emerged top seed going into the Women’s Open Masters Final knockout matches. She did not disappoint, although she had her scary moments.

Kelly Kulick and Carolyn Ballard were the only two American PBA bowlers to take part this year. Carolyn was here to defend the title she won last year.

The lane conditions were described as ‘challenging’ and even Kelly, who has been bowling for 27 years (since she was 6 yrs old) had to dig deep into her experience to lift this year’s crown. In the quarter finals, she defeated 2005 Champion, Siti Safiyah of Malaysia with games of 196/212/224 against Safiyah’s 178/238/197 (won 2-1). Kelly had a relatively easy match against Liza Del Rosario of Philippines in the semi finals when she bowled lines of 191/216 to beat Liza’s 188/178. In the final matchplay, Kelly was stretched to the limits when she had to face a ’spinner’ from Chinese Taipei in the name of HL Chien. Kelly lost the first game 184/211. She recovered to win the second game by a mere 6 pins when she shot a 218 game against Chien’s 212. Again in the decider, she had a close call although she finally clinched the title on a 211 game against Chien’s 201 game.

With her win, Kelly took home RM15000 prize money and a chance to defend her crown next year. HL Chien had to settle for RM7500.

In the Men’s Division, defending Champion Zulmazran Zulkifli of Malaysia was unable to make it a 3-times hattrick after crashing out in the quarter finals. However, team mate Adrian Ang was able to keep the title in the country when he beat Osku Palermaa of Finland in an exciting match to claim his first Malaysian Open title.

Adrian had earlier disposed off Shaker Al Hassan of UAE with wins of 279-191 and 238-202 in the quarter finals. He however did not have an easy passage against Hussain Al Suwaidi, also of UAE, in the semi finals. He was stretched to games of 261/238/199 against Hussain’s 187/247/169 (won 2-1) to set up a meeting with Osku who had earlier disposed off another Malaysian youngster, 18 yrs old Yusof Abdul Raof in the semi finals.

Both Adrian and Osku succumbed to apparently challenging lane conditions on their opening games…with Adrian shooting a poor 163 game and Osku with an even poorer 147 game. However, after many ball changes, they were able to get their act together in game 2 with Osku levelling the points to one each. In the decider, Adrian was able to prove he was a better bowler on that day, when he shot a 222 game against Osku’s 214 game.

An exciting match to watch overall. Home ground, home advantage, plus a hot streak after coming in second and beating a few PBA fellows at the Brunswick Euro Challenge in Paris just a week ago may have added to this young gun’s confidence to win his first Malaysian Open title. 

Adrian pocketed RM35000 for his win and Osku took home RM17000.

For detailed scores, please go to MTBC official website.

Have a HAPPY EASTER!

Jonathan

Qualifying rounds for the 45th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup at the Melaka International Bowling Center has just ended.

After 3 days of intense competition to determine the top 24 men and 24 women bowlers for the round of 24, the quarter-finalists will now bowl another 8 games tonight to determine the top eight to advance to the semi-finals tomorrow morning.

Topping the Women’s Division is Zara Giles of England who has managed to maintain her lead for 3 consecutive days. Her total pincount stands at 5275 (24 games averaging 219.79). Close on her heels is Malaysian teenager Siti Safiyah Amirah who leaped frog from a second day 9th position to second spot after a superb 1893 series today. She totals 5241 (218.38 avg). Caroline Lagrange of Canada also bowled well today to finish 3rd on 5218 (217.42 avg).

Evgenia Tsarkova (Russia), Tenelle Milligan (USA), Liza del Rosario (Philippines), Helen Johnsson (Sweden) and Baek Seung-ja (Korea) make up the top eight bowlers.

In the Men’s Division, Choi Yong-Kyu of Korea maintained his second day lead with another superb 1986 series. His total pincount of 5652 gives him a 235.50 average. Coming in strongly was Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia with 5366 pincount (223.58 avg) and Martin Larsen of Sweden on third spot with 5282 (220.08 avg).

2005 World Cup title holder Michael Schmidt of Canada also came back strong to finish on fourth position. Zulmazran Zulkifli (Malaysia), Surasak Manuwang (Thailand), Walter Ray Williams Jr (USA) and Wicky Yeung (Hong Kong) make up the top eight men bowlers.

Top American probowler, Walter Ray Williams Jr made an incredible comeback with a high 1891 series today after two lack lustre days.

Four times World Cup Champion, Paeng Nepomuceno had his hopes of a fifth title dashed when he failed to make the top 24 cut by a mere 3 pins.

For full updates and detailed scores, please go to this link
http://www.mtbc.org.my/

For some photos of World Cup participants and supporters, go here
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ABC-To-Bowling/53315535453

Have a great bowling day

Jonathan

courtesy of The STAR Sports
By SHAMSHUL FITRI

PETALING JAYA: The newly-built 52-lane Malacca In­­ter­na­tional Bowling Centre, which will stage the 45th Qubica AMF Bowling World Cup from Nov 15-19, has received mixed reviews from national bowlers Zulmazran Zul­kifli and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman.

The duo, who will represent Malaysia in the tournament, took to the lanes for a two-hour practice session on Tuesday.

Zulmazran, who will turn 26 a day after the tournament ends, said he was generally satisfied with the lane conditions there.

“Although the actual lane conditions were not laid out when we practised, the lane conditions for World Cup competitions are generally easy as the organisers want to see many strikes,” he said.

“Hence, it will be an open field.”

The Indonesian Open and Jakarta Super Classic champion said he aimed to make it into the top eight of the tournament and “then I will take it from there to bring honour for the country”.

Siti, however, had a different spin to the conditions at the bowling centre, saying she felt a bit cramped with the split-house style of the lanes – where 26 lanes sit on each side of the centre. “I am quite used to playing in big bowling centres but somehow I feel cramped there,” said Siti, who will turn 19 a day before the tournament begins.

“I’m also concerned that the fans may crowd the centre and the heat generated may alter the lane conditions.”

However, Siti – the reigning World Ranking Masters champion – admitted that her concerns were minor and she would focus on giving her best on tournament day.

For the record, the best Malaysian efforts in the men’s and women’s events of the World Cup were the runner-up finishes by Michael Chuah (1983 in Mexico) and Shalin Zulkifli (1996 in Belfast).