26th September, Bangkok: The quartet of Anthony Simonsen of Austin, Texas, Danielle MacEwan of Stony Point, NY., Jesper Svensson of Sweden and New Hui Fen of Singapore made the top bracket of the qualifying standings at the 2018 PBW-World Bowling Tour Thailand on Wednesday.
Simonsen, the 2018 Xtra Frame Gene Carter Proshop Classic champion, notched up a stunning 801 series to leapfrog from 20th position overnight to second with a new 9-game total of 2265. The 2016 USBC Masters champion has 750 and 714 in his two other series.
2017 World Championships Masters champion, Francois Lavoie of Canada, who was in the top bracket in the first three days, had slipped down to 12th position on 2167. But the Canadian chalked up an improved 792 to move back up into third with 2251.
2018 Brunswick Ballmasters champion and overnight leader, Sin Li Jane of Malaysia remained in pole position with 2268. Danielle MacEwan became the second women to make the top bracket after the 2018 PWBA Fountain Valley Open champion totaled 2225 for fourth position.
Anthony Simonsen moving up into second overall
2016 FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions winner and 2016 World Bowling Tour Thailand champion, Jesper Svensson added a sizzling 815 series to secure fifth position with 2224.
2016 PWBA Rookie of the Year, New Hui Fen of Singapore, who had 808, 674 and 656 and was lying in 22nd position last night, improved with 722 and 693 to take up sixth with 2223. Four-time JPBA Triple Crown champion, Shota Kawazoe of Japan, who had dropped out of the top bracket twice, returned for a third time with 2213 taking up seventh and last top bracket spot. Early leader, Kyle Troup of Taylorsville, N.C., dropped out into tenth position to head the second bracket with 2205.
Surasak Manuwong swapped eighth position, the slot reserved for the top Thai qualifier not in the top bracket, with compatriot and defending champion, Yannaphon Larpapharat, who slipped down to take up ninth position reserved for a second Thai qualifier.
Michael Tang of San Francisco, Calif., and 2018 World Youth Championships Singles bronze medallist, Abdulrahman Alkheliwi of Saudi Arabia, who were also in the top bracket last night, slipped out into 11th and 12th positions with 2203 and 2186 respectively.
Marshall Kent of Yakima, Wash., rolled the tournament's third perfect game to make the cut in 15th position with 2179. Lavoie shot the fourth 300 at the same squad. Thai youth Kunakorn Ponganekkul rolled the first 300 and Timmy Tan of Malaysia the second 300.
Other notable qualifiers were Bill O'Neill (13th-2185), Chris Via (14th-2183), Liz Johnson (16th-2178), Osku Palermaa (17th-2175) and Sean Rash (18th-2173). 2018 Asian Games Team silver medallist, Natasha Roslan of Malaysia, headed the third bracket with 2147.
At press time, the cut at 37th position went to Team USA member, Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas with 2128. Last night's cut was at 2110 and just after three squads completed and with six remaining, the cut could increase by another 20 pins or more making it to be around 2150.
Fourth and third perfect gamers, Francois Lavoie and Marshall Kent
Qualifiers position 1 to 8 get three byes and automatically advance to Round 4 finals. Qualifiers positioned 9 to 24 get two byes and automatically advance to Round 3 finals. Qualifiers positioned 25 to 37, plus two positions 38 and 39 reserved for Thais and the top 3 from the one-game desperado squad (total 18 players) will contest Round 2 finals over 6 games.
The top 10 finishers with the highest pinfalls will be joined by qualifiers from the second bracket positioned 9 to 24 (total 26 players) for Round 3 Finals over 6 games from scratch. The top 12 finishers with the highest pinfalls will be joined by qualifiers from the top bracket position 1 to 9 (21 players) for the final 6 games in 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).
Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok, Thailand.
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