22nd November, Palembang: Francois Louw remained unchallenged as the South African retained his lead in the Men's Top 24 qualifying round of the 55th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup while Kelly Kulick of USA snatched pole in the Women's division.

As expected after four exceptional qualifying rounds, Louw got off the block with two superb games of 224 and 226 but was unable to pull away from his nearest rival, Oliver Morig after the German downed 248 and 209.

The South African struggled in his next two games with 173 and 149 allowing Morig to narrow the deficit to 122 pins midway in the round. Korea's Lee Wanhee was consistent in the first half to stay in third while Ireland's Christopher Sloan gradually moved up the table to fourth.

After another low game in the 29th, Louw recovered with 232, 207 and 221 to round off another good day with a 1602 8-game series and a total of 7122 to remain in pole position for the next round.

Meanwhile, overnight leader Natasha Roslan of Malaysia and Kelly Kulick of USA had a keen tussle for the lead throughout the 8-games block. Roslan remained in the lead at the start of the round but was quick to hand the lead over to Kulick after two lack-luster games of 169 and 187.

The American rolled 223 and 236 to move ahead of the Malaysian and held the lead after another game. Roslan recovered with two better games of 235 and 228 to retake the lead. Again her lead lasted only one game.

Kulick regained the lead with 243 and 223 but the gap between the two was only seven pins. Roslan again retook the lead before the final game but the American prevailed with a stronger 219 to clinch pole position with 6725.

Roslan settled for second position with 6710, just four pins adrift while two-time champion, Aumi Guerra of Dominican Republic kept her third spot with 6514. Australia's Rebecca Whiting, who was in ninth position overnight, made the biggest leap from ninth to fourth with 6495.