RP bowlers eased out of World Cup

HERMOSILLO, Mexico – The Philippines’ Kimberly Lao and Jeffrey Carabeo crashed out of the 44th AMF Bowling World Cup tournament at the Boll 300 Centre here.

The Filipino champions failed to survive the 24-game qualifying round Thursday, with Lao finishing in 28th spot – four off the 24-man cut – with 4681 for an average of 195.04 and Carabeo landing in 45th place on 4793 (199.71 average).

Singapore’s Jasmine Yeong-Nathan topped the women’s elimination with 5477, while American Derek Eoff showed the way in the men’s group with 5500.

Yeong-Nathan kept her scintillating performance to advance to the semifinals with 7259, ahead of seven other lady campaigners.

Also making it to the semifinals are Australia’s Ann Maree Putney (7210), Sweden’s Helen Johnsson (7171), England’s Zara Glover (7048), Finland’s Krista Pollanen (6996), Netherlands’ Lisane Breeschoten (6884), American Shannon Pluhowsky (6832) and Canada’s Jennifer Park (6798).

Park was 23 pins off the cut for the top eight with just one game to go but she produced a 237 to finish eight pins ahead of France’s Isabelle Sacco.

“I was lying 13th last night so my aim today was simply to make the top eight.,” said Park.

Sacco came to grief with a 206 final game, which included a big split at a crucial stage. She had previously finished fifth twice in 2000 and 2005, when she was Isabelle Sadjian but she and top French player Francois Sacco got married last August. Francois himself is playing in the men’s division and was in eight place after the 24 qualufying games.