MEN'S QUALIFYING, FIRST 6 OF 24 GAMES, SHORT OIL:
Wednesday, Sept. 1 - 13:00

A TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENT FOR THE SHORT OIL

Maltese 2004 champion Kenneth Arpa, 35, tops the men's field after the first block of six games rolled on the short oil condition this afternoon. The resident of Naxxar on the idyllic Mediterranean island and technician by profession came through in the last game to oust Greek Dimitrios Karetsos and take pole position with 1,246.

"I prefer short oil," said the lithe Maltese, "we used this type of condition in the recent Maltese Championships, also using the short and long oil conditions. I was pleased to be able to go through the six games using the same ball and only making small adjustments throughout the series. I do seem to bowl better on the short condition but am surprised to be the frontrunner against such formidable opposition. I now hope that I can bowl as well on the long oil tomorrow morning."

Arpa has just an 11-point lead over second-placed over veteran Olli Tiainen of Finland, who has hit the high game of the tournament so far, a 265, and Karetsos has been dumped into third place.