Clutario makes it to final

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s Evelyn Chan emerged as the top qualifier after the second and final block of the women’s Masters Sunday and towed five other bowlers, including the Philippines’ Liza Clutario, into the stepladder finals of the 36th Singapore Open at the Victor’s Superbowl here.

The 27-year-old Chan led from start to finish and scored 3374 pinfalls (210 average) to top a world-class field of 30 bowlers. Only the top six made it to the stepladder finals, which was scheduled Sunday evening.

Others who advanced were Chinese Taipei’s Pan Yu Fen, the second seed who scored 3295 pinfalls, 32 pins ahead of 2002 World Ranking Masters champion, Jennifer Tan, also of Singapore, who scored 3263 for third.

Joining them in the stepladder finals were Korea’s Kim Eun Jung (3232), Taiwanese Chu Yu Chieh (3214) and Clutario (3200) in fourth to sixth positions, respectively. Clutario had 1608 in the first block and 1592 in the second to advance.

Filipina bowlers who failed to reach the stepladder finals were Liza del Rosario and Cecilia Yap, the winner of the event in 2000. Yap is the only Filipina to have won here, next to Bong Coo (1972 and 1973).

Malaysia’s Wendy Chai failed in her bid to become the first bowler to win three Singapore Opens in a row when she finished 22nd (3048). Asian Games champion Shalin Zukifli finished in 18th (3086), while England’s world doubles champion Kirsten Penny was 26th (2859).

The second block of the men’s Masters was being played as of presstime. Filipinos trying to make it to the stepladder finals were Chester King, Joonee Gatchalian, Purvis Granger, Frederick Ong and Norman Gonzales.

But the Filipinos will have a lot of catching up to do with King running 10th after the first block, Gatchalian 12th, Granger 13th, Ong 21st and Gonzales 40th.

The top 42 players from the men’s group and top 30 from the women’s side played two blocks of eight games each, but only the top six from each group made it to the stepladder finals and stayed in the hunt for the juicy cash prizes of $20,000 (men’s) and $5,000 (women’s).