Singaporean champ threatens Irene, Liza

Defending champion Jennifer Tan of Singapore and Malaysian Shalin Zulkifli finally got the foreign bets going in the 31st Boysen-PBC International Open at the Green Valley Center in Pasig.

Tan, the reigning women’s masters champion, immediately made her presence felt in the third leg of the CGU Asian Bowling Tour 2002, submitting 927 pinfalls to shoot ahead at third in the women’s singles class O just behind the Philippines’ Irene Benitez (977) and Liza del Rosario (929).

The Singaporean’s surge dislodged Zulkifli, the women’s singles gold medalist in the last Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games, in the top three of the distaff side’s premiere event, but made up for it by rolling 1779 pinfalls in the women’s all events class O to take second place and threaten Benitez’ hold of the lead.

Ces Yap fell to third place with 1711.

Not as fortunate was national team coach Purvis Granger, who finally yielded the men’s all events class O lead to Malaysian Azidi Ameran.

Ameran fired 1897, beating out the 1870 of Granger, leader in the event since Day 1 of the meet sponsored by Boysen, Philippine Sports Commission, Prudential Guarantee, Bowlmart, Prima Pasta, Kegel, Regent Foods, ILO Construction and official hotel Manila Galleria Suites.

In the men’s singles class O, RJ Bautista (1009) and Botchok Rey (998) kept their 1-2 spots, but slowly creeping in is Malaysian Ben Heng whose 969 pinfalls put him in third place.

The foreign campaigners’ onslaught was also felt in the team event where the Malaysian trio of Ameran, Jonathan Lim and Gerald Samuel landed at third place in the men’s class O with a series total of 1364, trailing the RP team of Bautista, Rey and Rivera (1451) and Chester King, Duane Camacho and Granger of PBAP-Bowlmart.