1st November, Singapore: Singapore's Evelyn Chan gave local supporters and onlookers a fever pitch excitement, when she led from start to finish in the first block of 8 games in the Women's Masters final of the 36th Singapore Open.

Chan, 27, who is only in her first full year on the Singapore national team, started with a sizzling 279 game and never looked back. After two games, she was 57 pins clear of the field and at the halfway mark, Chan was 66 pins ahead of her nearest rival and teammate Catherine Kang. With the crowd solidly behind her, Chan kept her momentum going and by game 6, she was already 106 pins ahead of second-placed teammate Alice Tay.

The right handed hook bowler eventually finished 109 pins clear of the field with a 1,811 total (279, 233, 202, 209, 215, 226, 236, 211). Hong Kong's Vanessa Fung and Taiwan's Pan Yu Fen are currently second and third with 1, 702 and 1,660 respectively.

"I'm quite surprised with my performance today as I injured my lower back during Thursday masters qualifying," said Chan, who was visibly in pain

when she sat down at the media center for the post-game interview. "I have been going to a Chinese physician for massages the last two days and I had to wear a waist guard. At the start, I was just thinking of trying to finish the first block without aggravating my injury."

Chan's performance is made more outstanding considering as one-third of the 30 women field are either current or former world champions. Besides Singapore's 2001 and 2002 World Ranking Masters champions Jesmine Ho and Jennifer Tan, there were also eight current world champions - England's Kirsten Penny (world doubles champion), Philippines world champions trios of Liza del Rosario, Liza Cultario and Cecilia Yap and Malaysian world team champions Shalin Zukifli, Wendy Chai, Sarah Yap and Choy Poh Lai.

"I was aware I was in the lead but I just kept my focus throughout," said Chan, who has yet to win her first international Open title. "I haven't really thought about winning this tournament before the start. I was just aiming to finish in the top 16 and to qualify for the ESPN Aviva Asian Bowling Tour. I don't know how I will feel tomorrow morning when I wake. Hopefully, my back will hold up and I can keep up my momentum. My best finish in an Open tournament is fifth at this year's Thailand Open. It's a long long way to go, but I will try my best."

It was a good day for local supporters as there are currently three Singaporeans in the top ten. Besides Chan's sensational performance, spinners Alice Tay (1648) and Jennifer Tan (1613) are in fourth and sixth positions respectively.

Philippines world trios champions Liza Clutario and Liza del Rosario are not out of contention yet. World championships runner Clutario is currently seventh, 203 pins behind the leader, while current Asian number 2 Rosario, the 2003 Malaysian Open champion, is a further 11 pins adrift.

Other pre-tournament favourites, however, will have a bit of catching up to do. Malaysia's Wendy Chai, who is aiming to be the first person to win three Singapore Opens in a row, is in 13th position, world doubles champion Kirsten Penny is 22nd, while Asian Games champion Shalin Zukifli is surprisingly only 25th in a field of 30 top qualifiers.

For more information, please contact the media center at 65-62241012
Kelvin Phang Tel: 65-92375118, Email: kelvin.phang@octagon.com
Ken Yong Tel: 65-90601774, Email: ken.yong@octagon.com

Media released by Octagon RTA, the Event Communications Consultants for the 36th Singapore Open.

1st November, Singapore: World Championship Trios Gold medalist, Dino Castillo lived up his billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites by grabbing the midway lead of the 36th Singapore Open Masters final at Victor's Superbowl. The American crowd favourite, however, had to do it the hard way.

After his first three games (181, 163, 169), the 32-year-old pro-shop manager was floundering near the bottom of a field of 42 Masters qualifiers. But Castillo soon got into the groove from Game 4 and averaged 256 in his next five games (247, 255, 254, 248, 278) to charge right to the top of the standings with a 1,795 showing (224 average).

"I was trying a few things in my first few games as I felt the lanes were still fresh," said Castillo, who is one of four bowlers who rolled a perfect 300 game during the week's MQs. "But I found myself all over the place and I was getting splits in every direction. Then I noticed South Korean Lee Sung Il was going very far right, so I tried to follow that. In game three, I hit a seven-bagger and I decided to go even further right. Once I was locked in, I knew I was going to make a big run. And well, it turned out to be a really big run."

While Castillo had a slow start, local favourite Remy Ong led the field after the very first game with a 259. Halfway through the first flock of 8 games, the Asian Games champion remained among the early pace-setters and lurked in fourth (863). At that point, Lee Sung Il of Korea (963) was heading the field after a 299 in game four. The Korean saw his hopes of claiming $10,000 vanished, when pin 7 refused to fall on his 12th ball.

Lee and Ong stayed in first and second after 6 games, but Castillo jumped from behind the pack to grab the lead. Korean Lee, who was only the 31st best qualifier is currently second 24 pins behind leader Castillo, while Malaysia's Zulmazran Zulkifli (1739), Taiwan's Kao Hai Yuan (1714), Singapore permanent resident Tom Hahl (1704) and hometown favourite Ong (1700) are second to sixth respectively.

Earlier in the day, Singapore's Jazreel Tan was crowned Girl's Youth champion, while Philippines Markwin Tee was the Boy's Youth Champion. Veteran Jack Wong cruised to an easy win in the Men's Senior with a score of 2072 event while Dorothy Aw took the Women's Senior crown with 1828.

The second block of eight games will commence at noon tomorrow and the top six will enter the step-ladder finals, where the winner walks away with $10,000.

For more information, please contact the media center at 65-62241012
Kelvin Phang Tel: 65-92375118, Email: kelvin.phang@octagon.com
Ken Yong Tel: 65-90601774, Email: ken.yong@octagon.com

Media released by Octagon RTA, the Event Communications Consultants for the 36th Singapore Open.

31st October, Singapore: AVIVA Asian Bowling Tour Indonesia leg champion, Wu Siu Hong from Hong Kong became the fourth bowler to notch up a perfect game of the 36th Singapore Open this morning. The 19-year-old, together with Dino Castillo, Liza Clutario and Teerapol Sajaraktrakul, will all share the $10,000 perfect game prize if no one else repeats this feat tonight.

"I never expected to get a perfect game," said Wu, who finished number one on the Asian Zone and Asian Bowling Tour rankings in 2001. "I was merely trying to qualify. I felt the pressure from the eighth frame onwards. But like in all perfect games, luck is a big factor and I am very happy to achieve my third perfect game this year."

Wu's sixth career 300 came during his first game of a 948 series (300, 211, 225, 212) and that MQ put him 10th position in the overseas pool at press-time.

The day's high series so far belonged to Taiwan's Cheng Chao Sheng (fifth in overseas pool at press-time) who had a 956 series in the afternoon session, while Malaysia's Azidi Ameran (ninth in overseas pool) also looked to have made the cut with a 953 series.

Australian sensation Jason Belmonte, 20, who bowled a sizzling 1,043 series (261 average) late Thursday night continued to lead all qualifiers, while Philippines' Purvis Granger (1,032) and Malaysia's Eric Ang (1,022) remained second and third respectively.

Meantime, Singapore national bowler Alvin Kwang jumped to the top of the local pool with a 978 series (174, 287, 290, 227) which was achieved late Thursday night.

Kwang who finished third in this year's Malaysian Open, will enter tomorrow's Masters final as top local qualifier as he had a high game of 290. Faizal Chew, who also achieved a 978 series earlier in the week, will go into the Masters as the second best local qualifier as his high game is only 277. Asian Games champion Remy Ong failed to improve on his qualifying score of 905 and is only the seventh best qualifier (34th among all qualifiers) at press-time.

There were hardly any changes in the women's pools. World Championship

Doubles champion Kirsten Penny (945) continued to lead all qualifiers, ahead of Malaysia's Choy Poh Lai (941), Asian number one Liza Clutario (918) and Asian Games champion Shalin Zukifli (914).

There were hardly any changes in the women's pools. World doubles champion Kirsten Penny (945) continued to lead all qualifiers, ahead of Malaysia's Choy Poh Lai (941), Asian number one Liza Clutario (918) and Asian Games champion Shalin Zukifli (914). Indonesia's Happy Soediyono had the day's high series (855) at press-time and the current Asian Bowling Tour leader is now ninth in the overseas pool.

Likewise in the local pool, Catherine Kang (941) and Regina Lau (920) stayed in the top two positions. Only the top 10 women in the overseas, the top 10 in the local pool and the top 9 in the mixed pool qualify for tomorrow's Masters finals. Malaysia's Wendy Chai is automatically through as the defending champion. Chai is aiming to become the first bowler to win three Singapore Open titles in a row.

Only two other bowlers have won more than two Singapore Open crowns. Singapore's SY Loh won in 1975, 1977 and 1979. Australia's Ruth Gerster won the Singapore Open five times from the 1960s to 80s (1967, 1970, 1977, 1979, 1980). The women's champion on Sunday will take home $5,000, while the men's champion receives $20,000.

For more information, please contact the media center at 65-62241012
Kelvin Phang Tel: 65-92375118, Email: kelvin.phang@octagon.com
Ken Yong Tel: 65-90601774, Email: ken.yong@octagon.com

Media released by Octagon RTA, the Event Communications Consultants for the 36th Singapore Open.

30th October, Singapore: Australian sensation Jason Belmonte blazed the lanes at Victor's Superbowl with a superb 1043 series (230, 289, 245, 279) to top all qualifiers on Day 6 of the 36th Singapore Open. Thailand's Teerapol Saijaratrakul, Dino Castillo of USA and Liza Clutario were the three competitors to hit the perfect game so far.

Belmonte, 20, came near to becoming the fourth person to get a 300 perfect game but a stubborn 10 pin on his eleventh ball crashed his hopes.

Roared on by a supportive crowd, Belmonte, who uses the unorthodox double handed delivery, managed to surpass the previous tournament best of 1032 set by Purvis Granger earlier in the day.

"The crowd really got me going," said Belmonte, whose previous visit to Singapore was in a junior tournament where he finished 16th back in 2000. "You can score really well if you have the right ball. Some of the bowlers are bowling well but they might not have the right ball. Purvis, Dino, Andrew Frawley and Singapore's Remy Ong are looking very good, so it's not going to be easy to win."

Belmonte was fourth at last month's World Championships in Kuala Lumpur. Meantime, Malaysia's 16-year-old sensation Eric Ang who missed a perfect game (299)by one pin, is currently third with a 1022 series.

Earlier in the day, American world trios champion Dino Castillo and Philippines world trios champion Liza Cultario both scored perfect games today to join Thailand's Teerapol Sajaraktrakul in the exclusive 300 club.

If no one else repeats the perfect game, all three bowlers will share the $10,000 perfect cash prize equally.

Qualification continues till Friday. Only the top 42 men (top 14 overseas, top 14 local, top 14 mixed) and the top 29 women (top 10 overseas, top 10 local, top 9 mixed) will make the cut for Saturday's Masters final. Malaysia's Wendy Chai do not have to qualify as she is the defending champion. Chai will be aiming to become the first bowler to win three Singapore Opens in a row.

For more information, please contact the media center at 65-62241012
Kelvin Phang Tel: 65-92375118, Email: kelvin.phang@octagon.com
Ken Yong Tel: 65-90601774, Email: ken.yong@octagon.com

Media released by Octagon RTA, the Event Communications Consultants for the 36th Singapore Open.

30th October, Singapore: World Championship Trios Gold medalist Liza Clutario of the Philippines and Dino Castillo of USA scored two more perfect games on Day 6 to send scores soaring in the 36th Singapore Open. Thailand's Teerapol Saijaratrakul was the first competitor to hit the perfect game last night.

Castillo, who is sponsored by Ebonite, got his 300 game in the morning session, minutes after Malaysia's Eric Ang (299) and former PBA bowler Purvis Granger (296) both missed the perfect game on their last ball. In comparison to Castillo who has over 50 sanctioned perfect games, Storm-sponsored Cultario's perfect game was her maiden one.

"My only perfect games in the past was in practice," said Cultario whose 300 game came on lanes 17 and 18. "I just told myself to slow down my movement and really focus. This was a great experience. Getting a perfect game is wonderful, but I also hope to win this tournament."

If no one else repeats the 300 feat, Castillo and Cultario will be able to share the $10,000 cash prize with Thai Teerapol Sajaraktrakul, who was the first to notch up a perfect game last night.

"Well, if I have to share the perfect game prize, I'm glad it is with a Filipino," said Castillo, who is half-Filipino and half-Spanish. "This is my first time here and I am starting to get used to the lanes. All the pins are not stacked in the same way and it's important to look for the pin position. I had a ball change yesterday and my momentum had been building up."

Despite a 300 game, Castillo failed to improve on his best MQ score so far of 905 and is only third in the mixed pool at press-time. All top 14 bowlers in the overseas pool have already surpassed 910.

2002 Asian Bowling Tour Grand Slam champion Granger meantime made up for the disappointment of missing a perfect game (296) by scoring a sensational a 1032 series (201, 278, 296, 257) to top all qualifiers.

"The moment I release the ball, I knew it was bad," said Granger, the current leader on the Aviva Asian Bowling Tour. "But I am happy with overall performance so far. I got a new Storm ball and I like what it's giving me. My confidence is up. So let's see what happens."

Malaysia's 16-year-old youth bowler, meantime, Eric Ang, had a sizzling 1,022 series (256, 299, 234, 233) to overtake previous leader Ryan Lalisang (987) to be second among all qualifiers at press time.

It was also a good day for the Malaysian bowler Choy Poh Lai who jumped to second among all qualifiers with a 941, just four pins behind overnight leader Kirsten Penny of England (945). Philippines Cultario, who had the tournament's third perfect game, had a 918 series to push Asian Games champion Shalin Zukifli (914) to fourth in the overseas pool.

There were no major changes in the local bowl. Faizal Chew remained top with his 978 series in the men's MQ, while Kang stayed top in the women's MQ with 941.

Qualification continues till Friday. Only the top 42 men (top 14 overseas, top 14 local, top 14 mixed) and the top 29 women (top 10 overseas, top 10 local, top 9 mixed) will make the cut for Saturday's Masters final. Malaysia's Wendy Chai do not have to qualify as she is the defending champion. Chai will be aiming to become the first bowler to win three Singapore Opens in a row.

For more information, please contact the media center at 65-62241012
Kelvin Phang Tel: 65-92375118, Email: kelvin.phang@octagon.com
Ken Yong Tel: 65-90601774, Email: ken.yong@octagon.com

Media released by Octagon RTA, the Event Communications Consultants for the 36th Singapore Open.

29th October, Singapore: Thailand's Teeraphol Saijaraktrakul scored the first perfect game of the 36th Singapore Open this evening as leaderships changed hands with Indonesia's Ryan Lalisang and England's Kirsten Penny topped the qualifying table.

The Storm-sponsored bowler achieved his second career 300 on lane 10 at Victor's Superbowl, barely 20 minutes after Japan's Hiroko Shimizu failed narrowly in her bid for the first perfect game of the tournament on lane 9.

Shimizu looked good with the 1-2 pocket on her 11th shot, but a 7-10 split crashed her hopes of claiming the $10,000 perfect game prize. The Japanese left-hander had to settle for a high game of 287 and her 842 series put third in the women overseas pool, behind new leader Sarah Yap of Malaysia (896) and Tang Joh Six (847).

Teerapol meantime got a standing ovation when he achieved his perfect game during the second game of a 946 series (238, 300, 226, 182). If no one repeats a 300, he will walk away with a $10,000 cash prize.

"I was very lucky especially in frame eight," said Teerapol, whose mates called him 'Champ'. "Pin two dropped very late and you always need a bit for luck for perfect games. My first 300 game was in a local tournament in Thailand and there wasn't any money involved. This is a new experience for me. I'll definitely give some of the prize money to my parents."

Teerapol's best finish in an international Open this year is ninth position at the Thai Open and the relatively newcomer knows it wouldn't be easy winning the 36th Singapore Open. "The lane conditions are difficult and the field is definitely stronger than those I've faced before," said the communications undergraduate, who is currently fifth in the overseas pool. "But I will try my best in the Masters finals."

Bowling in the same MQ as Teerapol was Indonesia's Ryan Lalisang who became the current top qualifier with an impressive 987 series (216, 256, 278, 237) at press-time. "I was really struggling before getting a 987," said Lalisang, 23. "Certain lanes seem to favour high scores and luckily I managed to draw lanes 9 and 10. I basically took the same line as Teerapol who got his perfect game. It's possible someone can hit above 1000, if conditions stay the same."

Earlier in the day, Malaysian youth bowler Zaid Izlan, 15, had scored a 962 series (233, 227, 224, 278) to head the overseas pool for a few hours, but Ryan's 987 soon allowed him to grab the headlines.

There were no changes in the local pool with Faizal Chew remaining on top

with a 978 series, ahead of Jason Yeong Nathan (945), Jack Wong (914), Rohezan Abd Manaf (911) and Remy Ong (905). Besides the top 14 from the overseas pool, the top 14 qualifiers in the local pool and another top 14 from the mixed pool will make the cut for Saturday's Masters.

England's Kristen Penny became the top women qualifer when she rolled a 945 series (217, 235, 247, 246) at the 36th Singapore Open this evening.

Penny won the Welsh Open and Thailand Open earlier this year and added the Indonesian Open about two weeks ago. She was runner-up at the 35th Singapore Open.

World trios champion Cecilia Yap, the 2000 Singapore Open champion, jumped to second in the overseas pool with a 909 series (201, 231, 255, 222), while Sarah Yap of Malaysia who had a 896 earlier in the day is in third.

At press-time, Catherine Kang and Regina Lau continued to lead all women qualifiers with 941 and 920 respectively. They are the only two female

bowlers to enter the 900 club so far. Qualification continues till Friday and admission to the 36th Singapore Open is free.

For more information, please contact the media center at 65-62241012
Kelvin Phang Tel: 65-92375118, Email: kelvin.phang@octagon.com
Ken Yong Tel: 65-90601774, Email: ken.yong@octagon.com

Media released by Octagon RTA, the Event Communications Consultants for the 36th Singapore Open.