MALAYSIAN OPEN 2009

Malaysian on a hot streak

14th March, P.Jaya: Two-time Milo World Junior All-Stars champion, Adrian Ang is on a hot streak after setting the early pace in the qualifying rounds of the Canon 32nd Malaysian International Open underway at Sunway Mega Lanes.
National Elite squad member, Adrian Ang, who will turn 21 this July first took to the lanes for his Singles with a scintilating three game series of 237, 258 and 237 for a total of 732. The 2008 Milo World Junior All-Stars champion then fired back-to-back 246 and finishing off with 243 for a total of 735 in his subsequent first attempt. Ang's effort also won him the daily high series award of a Canon PowerShot A1000IS digital camera sponsored by Canon Marketing. At this morning's 11.00am squad, the youngster from Penang fired another sizzling 737 after registering 255, 236 and 246 which looked set to winning another camera. His two best attempts shot him to the front of the Men's Open Masters qualifying table on a two series total of 1472.	Adrian Ang winning the Day 1 high series award
"The lanes and conditions here is very suitable for my style of play and I've always done well here," said the two-time national champion. "The Malaysian Open title is one that I'd love to win to start off this year. It won't be easy when it comes to the finals with so many world-class bowlers competing." Newly-crowned National champion and member of the national elite squad, Muhd Syafiq Ridhwan finished second with efforts of 688 and 671 in his two best attempts while ex-national, Jonathan Lim from Sarawak took third spot with 1212. Meanwhile, 2007 Singapore Open champion and 2008 Asean University Games Masters Gold medalist, Zatil Iman impressed after recording 663 and 618 for a total of 1281 to head the Ladies' Open Masters table. Two-time national champion, Sharon Koh finished second with a total of 1260 followed by 2005 Malaysian Open champion, Siti Safiyah Amirah and aational backup squad member, Nur Syakira Yeoh tieing in third with 1255. Defending champion, Zandra Aziela rounded up the top 5 with 1164.
National youth, Hurul Ainul stole the limelight on Day 2 of qualifying when she set the lanes ablazed with a superb 748 during her second attempt in the Youth Girl's Open division. Hurul opened with a superb 267 and then followed it up with 225 and 256. Despite her earlier attempt where she only managed 550, the 16-year-old SMK Puteri student fro Seremban occupied top spot with a total of 1298. Tengku Aimi Laily of Kedah finished second with 1085. Tengku Afnan Mahmood also from Kedah, occupied pole in the Youth Boy's Open division with a total of 1125 from two 3-game series of 582 and 543.	Hurul Ainul looking set to win the high series award
Qualifying will run through to March 19th for the Open and Graded divisions. The Youth Graded qualifying will end on March 17th and their finals will be staged on March 18th. The Youth Open qualifying will end March 18th and their finals will be staged March 19th. The Round 1 Open Masters finals will held at 9.00am on March 20th where the Men's Open field will be cut to 25 to join the top 4 local and top 4 overseas for ROund 2. Likewise, the Ladies' Open field will be cut to 21 to join the top 3 local and top 3 overseas for Round 2. The top 8 finishers at the end of the Round 2 finals will advance to the elimination quarterfinal rounds where the topseed will face the eighth-seed, second-seed vs the seventh-seed and so on for a best-of-three games matchplays. Winners will proceed to the semifinals and thereafter to the title match to determine this year's champions. The semifinals and finals will be telecast LIVE on Astro Supersport (Channel 811). Photos by Terence Yaw.