FRIDAY, JUNE 16
SQUAD 'I'
It's the Dutch t the top again as Menno van den Heuvel, 35, from Maren-Kessel topped this squad with 1356 and Scheveningen's Marieke de Jong (pictured, right), 24, totaled 1272.
De Jong led the squad yesterday, along with Ron van den Bogaard of Amsterdam, but today's score puts her in a better overall position, now second in the ladies' standings.
Van der Heuvel (pictured, left) is hitting the MO for the fifth time and wants to better his fourth place in 1997. This third entry places him in fifth place right now. Like Wim van der Veen, Van der Heuvel lives in a very small village with more sheep than people. Van der Veen's place boasts more cows.
All the Dutch contingent are enjoying the sun and warm weather in Malta. Menno is a big fan of the Malta Open but preferred the old tournament format. "I like to play different formats on the European Tour," he commented. "Unfortunately, most of the tournaments now seem to be the same."

SQUAD 'J':
Now here's a coincidence - defending champion Chris van Damme of Knokke-Heist, Belgium and Bigi Manico, Zurich, Switzerland are at the tender age of 47 and looking forward to being eligible to compete in the prestigious Senior Malta Open when they reach 50.
However, there are serious things in mind as both led their respective divisions in Squad J. Chris with 1375 and Bigi 1288.
"My first two entries were not too bad," commented the tall Belgian, "but I felt much more comfortable today. The lane condition is a lot different this year and lanes one to eight seem to be much drier than the rest."
The score from this squad moves Van Damme up to fifth overall.
Bigi Manico, who has moved up into second place overall, just loves coming to Malta each year and it will be twice a year when she is able to join the throng competing in the Senior Open. "I just love the sunshine, fun, good food and fantastic friends," she said, with a wide smile and admiring Chris' colorful trousers.

SQUAD 'K':
It seemed to be just a matter of time before the first perfect game of the 2006 Eden Leisure Malta Open was bowled and it came in the 19:00 squad on Friday evening, ably rolled by Nikolai Schroeder of Vienna, Austria. The 24-year-old government employee did not hit a lot of strikes in his practice session before the competition started. "I had a lucky strike with the first ball of the first game," he commented, "but then had another 11 good balls to score my fifth lifetime official 300 game."
Like fellow countryman and current tournament leader Thomas Gross, Schroeder is bowling the Malta Open for the first time and, of course, is enjoying his first visit to Malta. "I have only seen the hotel and the bowling center up until now," he joked, "but I intend to see a lot more of the island for a couple of days next week."
Schroeder hit 1376 over his initial six games and will take to the lanes again for another stint on Saturday.
Top lady on this squad was the irrepressible Kirsten Penny from England, placing up among the leaders with 1299.

OVERALL STANDINGS AFTER SQUAD 'J':
MEN: