Del Rosario rules Singapore Open

Asian Bowler of the Year awardee Liza del Rosario sustained the momentum of her fiery stint in the second block of the ladies Masters finals then outsteadied Malaysian Zandra Aziela in the championship round, 244-187, to bag the Masters crown in the 37th Singapore Open at the Victor’s Superbowl in Singapore yesterday.

Del Rosario, a World Championship trios gold medalist, finished sixth in the first block but sizzled with an 8-game series of 1827 in the second for a 3509 total to seize the top spot and the twice-to-beat edge in the stepladder finals.

She averaged 210 in the first block but stepped up her game with a solid 219 average on lines of 215-202-219-258-200-236-269-228.

"I’m very happy for the win, maganda ang laro ," said Del Rosario in a text message to his father Nepthy last night.

Aziela worked her way up from No. 6 to set up a championship duel with Del Rosario. She toppled another Filipina bet, Liza Clutario, and Taiwanese Wang Yu Ling, 243-198-170, then nipped compatriots Zhalin Zulkifli and Wendy Chai, 202-193-188.

But Aziela proved no match for Del Rosario in the finals with the Filipina champion flashing superb form to whip her Malaysian rival.

Chester King, the 2002 Asian Championships gold medalist, actually topped the first block of the men’s Masters finals but faltered in the next, finishing 10th in the second block and missing the stepladder finals.

American Tim Mack, who also topped the second block of the men’s Masters, nipped Daniel Lim, also of Malaysia, 197-194, to cop the crown.