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HONG HOLDS THE TRUMP CARDS
"Look out, I'm going all the way." So said the likeable Hong Kong lad Wu Siu Hong, 21(pictured), as he topped the field at the end of the first eight of 16 games in the Men's Open Masters on Thursday evening.
"I really have to give credit to my coach, Pedro Merani, who helped me so much through the games today.
I used the same bowling balls through this session but need to change my line inside as the lanes changed. I hope to do things exactly the same tomorrow, but all I can do is try my best."
Hong, a student, was ninth in last year's Open and aims to top the podium Friday evening to complete the victory on his seventh try. He is certainly inform, clinching the ABF Tour Tournament of Champions title in Jakarta, Indonesia in January. Whatever happens tomorrow, he should be well in the top 16 Asian bowlers for the upcoming third leg of the ABF Tour which takes over this center on Saturday and Sunday. Hong was third in the event last year and certainly wants to improve on that. His Tour record so far this year is fifth in Qatar and ninth in Kuwait.
Hong currently holds an 81 pin lead over Singapore's Alvin Kwang and 99 in front of Malaysia's Mustafa Yassin.
Early leaders Dino Castillo of the United States and Australia's Jason Belmonte fell back in the home straight and currently lie sixth and fifth respectively.
"I just don't know how he does that," remarked Hong as he watched Belmonte use his unique two-handed delivery. "I did try it without any success."
Two spectacular high games in this session saw Hong with 290 and Yassin with 289. A special prize of RM50,000 awaits the players to hit a perfect game during the Masters, divided equally should the feat be performed by multiple players.
The top six players after tomorrow's 16-game total will qualify to advance to the Stepladder Finals.