European women set the pace in 9th World Ranking Masters

    04/29/09

    Italy

    Oltremare Bowling Arena in Naples, Italy (April 27 - May 3, 2009)

    2009EBT04TinaHulsch2.jpg23 women from 15 countries took to the lanes at Oltremare Bowling Arena in Naples, Italy on Wednesday morning for the first round of qualifying in the 9th World Ranking Masters. The European women set the pace on the short oil pattern (34 feet) as they took the top 3 spots and five out of the top 8.

    Click on the image to enlarge it.

    Tina Hulsch, right, Germany, finished the 8-game block with 247, 235 and 215 en route to win the short-oil contest with 1674 pinfall total and an average of 209.25. Hulsch received a 1.000 U.S. Dollar bonus.

    2008 European ranking champion Nina Flack, Sweden, was second with 1650 including high games of 269 and 257. Third place belonged to Dutch national champion Ghislaine van der Tol, with 1623.

    2009WRMShalinZulkifli.jpg2008WRMKarenMarcano.jpgShalin Zulkifli (left) is the best Asian bowler in fourth place with 1621. Anne Lorraine Gales, Denmark, saved the best for the last game when she fired a 289 game to jump into fifth place with 1605. Wendy Kok, Netherlands, averaged 200.00 to sit in sixth place with 1600.

    Last year's WRM runner-up Karen Marcano (right), Venezuela, is the sole American bowler among the top 8 in 7th place with 1599. Rounding out the top 8 is Siti Safiyah Amirah, Malaysia, who chalked up 1589.

    All 23 players bowl 24 games of qualifying over three days, eight each on short, medium (40) and short (left lane) and medium (right lane) oil pattern. The top 8 after 24 games will advance to the single-elimination best-of-three games finals.

    The women's division offers USD32,500 total prize money with $10,000 going to the winner.

     


    Women's Division - Standings after the first block on short oil

    Â