Al Mass, Al Shaikh excel in Funland Ramadan bowling

TDT | Manama  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Ali Al Mass and Ahmed Al Shaikh posted the daily high series in their respective groups on day 13 of qualifying in the Funland Ramadan Bowling Tournament, being held at Funland Centre’s lanes.

Al Mass had a top score of 747 pins to lead all Group A bowlers on the day, while Al Shaikh had a 560 score to top Group B.

Bowlers in the tournament are being divided into two groups, with Group A for advanced competitors and Group B for beginners and ladies.

Contestants from both groups in this first phase attempt trials as much as they need, with the total pinfalls including handicap for their best three trials being considered.

Each trial is composed of three games. Qualifying action continues today and goes on until April 21. It is the first of the championship’s five stages.

Al Mass registered his best trial so far with his 747 pinfalls count. His two other best scores were 705 and 666 as he improved to a 2,118 total for a 235.3 average.

Al Mass rose to fourth on the standings all the way from being ranked 18th previously. He is now behind only the top three that is comprised of Emerson Gotencio from the Philippines, who leads with a 2,283 total and a 253.7 average; Abdulla Abdulkarim, who is second with a 2,246 total and 249.6 average; and Ahmed Al Goud, who is ranked third on counts of 2,129 and 236.6.

The battle for positioning continues to intensify with Essa Taqi (2,069, 229.9) in fifth, Ahmed Al Khaja (2,064, 229.3) sixth, Ahmed Fareed (2,064, 229.3) seventh and Isa Khalid (1,999, 222.1) eighth.

Meanwhile, Al Shaikh’s 560 series was his second-best in the tournament. His two other top marks were 565 and 558 as he raised his total to 1,683 for a 187.0 average—good enough for 13th on the Group B standings.

Euly Salcedo from the Philippines maintained his lead with a 1,986 total for a 220.7 average, followed by Ahmed Al Ansari with a 1,964 total and 218.2 average. Filipino bowler Ronald Seralvo ranked third with a 1,893 total and 210.3 average, with Isa Akbari fourth on counts of 1,826 and 202.9. Sami Saloom (1,824, 202.7) was fifth, and Khalid Sameer with Dexter De Asis from the Philippines sixth and seventh on similar totals and averages of 1,821 and 202.3, while completing the top eight was Hussain Busheri with a 1,765 total and 196.1 average.

At the end of the qualifying round, bowlers ranked first and second from Groups A and B will advance directly to round three, while bowlers ranked third to 16th from each group will play in round two.

The Funland Ramadan Bowling Tournament is being held in memory of the Late Murtadha Qudrat Rasti, the Late Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, and the Late Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Khalifa. Nearly BD4,000 in prize money will be on offer to the top 16 finishers.