IT'S VANESSA'S SHOW

Vanessa Fung of Hong Kong (pictured) set the pace in the first four games in this afternoon's Ladies' Open Masters' Finals. The daughter of esteemed Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) past and now Honorary Life President, Vivien Fung, snuck into first place with a five pin buffer over Malaysia's Wendy Chai, then Filipina Liza Clutario was third, a further 34 pins aback.
However, after six games of the opening eight-game block, Clutario took over pole position, thanks to a 266 and 257 over the fifth and sixth games and built a 20 pin lead over Fung. Chai dropped to third, just 13 pins ahead of team-mate Shalin Zulkifli.
Malaysia claimed fifth place after six as well. Zandra Aziela hit 290 in her third game, the highest of the Masters' final, to come right back into contention.
Come the break after eight of the 16 games, OARDthe nightwatchwoman is Fung, taking back supremacy with a final two games of 227 and 189 and now leads the pack by the slim margin of 21 pins.
The remaining eight Masters' games will be completed Friday afternoon. Then the top six ladies will qualify for the one-game stepladder final to shoot for the first place prize and a place atop the podium.

Pic courtesy of Sidney Tung, MTBC.

STANDINGS AFTER 12 OF 16 GAMES:
Fung maintains a slim lead at the top of the leader board with four games to go before the cut to the top six for the stepladder final. Wendy Chai is chasing and a 258 from Liza Del Rosario has brought her up into third place. Malaysia has three in the top six and Esther Cheah is trying hard to overtake the Chinese Taipei trio above her to make it four. The last hurdles are going to be tough.

STANDINGS AFTER 14 OF 16 GAMES:
The center went deathly quiet when Malaysi'a Shalin Zulkifli hit the first nine strikes, but a stubborn 10-pin spoiled her aim of a perfect game, ending with 278. That fine score brought her to the top and Liza Del Rosario is just a smidgen behind, pushing previous leader Fung into third place.

FINAL STANDINGS:
After leading the Masters for so long, it came as a bitter blow for Vanessa Fung to just miss the cut to the top six for the stepladder final by five pins, bowling a lowly 162 in the final game to blame. Del Rosario's final 228 was enough to overtake Zulkifli and leave her as top seed, awaiting the two opening matches before she shoots for the 2004 title. Two Filipinas, three Malaysians and one from Chinese Taipei amke up the ladies' finale. Excitement guaranteed.