4th October, Bangkok: 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games Doubles bronze medallist, Michael Mak made the cut for Round 2 Finals of the 2017 PBA-World Bowling Tour Thailand on the final day of qualifying rounds.
Mak, had registered 727, 703 and 662 for a 9-game aggregate of 2092 but finished 56th position, 14th in the reserves. Determined to make the finals, Mak needed at least a strong 700-series in order to qualify.
The 21-year-old started off his 7.00pm squad with nine consecutive strikes and almost rolled the tournament's fifth 300. But he only downed seven pins in his tenth frame, which he subsequently spared to end the first game of 287.
Mak added a superb 244 and look set to make the cut and perhaps even skip one round if he could finish with another big game. Unfortunately a stumbled to a spilt but was able to end with 197 for a 728 series. His last-gasph effort gave him a new total of 2158 which took him up to 29th position overall.
Michael Mak making the cut for Round 2 Finals
2011-12 PBA Player of the Year and 2013 PBA-WBT Thailand champion, Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., United States topped the standings with 2260. Early leader and 29th SEA Games Team silver medallist, Ryan Lalisang of Indonesia was second with 2244.
Four-time PBA Player of the Year, Mika Koivuniemi of Finland took third spot with 2232 ahead of 2015 DHC Japan Invitational and 2014 QubicaAMF World Cup champion, Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, USA in fourth with 2223.
Double-handed Irish, Christopher Sloan, who was in the second bracket, moved into the top bracket in the same squad for fifth position after he improved his 9-game tally to 2222. 2016 PBA-WBT 16th Qatar Open champion, Diana Zavjalova of Latvia was the top female qualifier in sixth with 2219.
2017 Grand Casino Hotel & Resorts PBA Oakland Open champion, Marshall Kent of Takima, Wash., USA, who had struggled on his first day of qualifying rounds, eventually found his line and form to make the top bracket in fifth with 2218.
2014 Asian Games Singles gold and 29th SEA Games Trios silver medallist, Yannaphon Larpapharat occupied eighth position reserved for the highest Thai qualifier. The top 7 plus Yannaphon will skip two rounds and automatically advance to Round 4 finals.
5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games Singles gold medallist, Annop Arromsaranon earned ninth position reserved the second highest Thai qualifier. Annop headed the second bracket followed by 2015 PBA World Bowling Tour Thailand first runner-up and owner of seven PBA titles, Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y., in tenth position with 2199.
Sean Rash taking over the lead on final qualifying day
Maria J. Rodriguez of Colombia is the cut in 24th position with 2163. Qualifiers positioned 9 to 24 will skip one round and automatically advance to Round 3 Finals. Another two-hander, Anthony Simonsen of USA headed the third bracket in 25th position with 2161 followed by 2017 Webber Cup winning member, Martin Larsen of Sweden in 26th position with 2159.
The cut in 37th position is held by 29th SEA Games Doubles gold medallist, Tannya Roumimper of Indonesia with 2148. Kim Bolleby and Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit occupied positions 38 and 39 reserved for Thais.
Other Hong Kong national bowlers, Eric Tseng, Rickle Kam, Jimmy Cheung, Tony Wong, Mike Chan, Wicky Yeung, Lau Kwun Ho and Ernest Kwok have yet to qualify. Qualifiers positioned 25 to 39 plus three qualifiers from the one-game desperado squad (total 18 players) will qualify for Round 2 Finals. The top 10 finishers will be joined by qualifiers from the second bracket positioned 9 to 24 (total 26 players) for Round 3 FInals.
At the end of Round 3 Finals, the top 12 finishers will be joined by qualifiers from the top bracket, positioned 1 to 8 for Round 4 Finals. The top 8 finishers at the end of the round will proceed to the Final TV Shootout to determine the champion, who will walk away with the top prize of 1 million Thai baht (approx. US$32,258).
A total of 4.215 million Thai baht (approx. US$131,967) prize money is up for grabs. A total of 42 finalists will earn a minimum of 40,000 Thai baht (approx. US$1,290). Qualifying will continue through to October 4 and the finals will be staged over October 5 and 6.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok, Thailand.
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