Hot Stuff from Marcus

Marcus Berndt, 21, from Malmo is southern Sweden set the pace in the opening squad of the 2010 Malta Open, coming through to top the leader board with a 290 in his sixth and final game of his first block to total 1356, 35 points better than tournament

favorite Stuart Williams of England, who has spent the past year competing on the PBA Tour in the United States.

Currently a student at Wichita University in the United States, truly a bowling dedicated school winner's of the National Collegiate Championships last April for the third successive year, Berndt is the son of a very famous Swedish international, Yvonne (Nilsson) Berndt, winner of three gold, two silver and a bronze medal in European and World Championships.

This is Berndt's second Malta Open, coming here for the first time last year. "This is such a beautiful place, the island itself is wonderful. It is nice that this is such a great tournament and if you're good enough you can win funds to pay for the trip. The bowling season has quietened down a little bit in the United States, so it is nice to travel.

"I struggled with my first game today. I just had a 160 and couldn't find a decent consistent line to the pocket. Then I watched some of the other bowlers to see where they were playing. I made a couple of adjustments and then had a 207-247-2250-203 and 290. "

The total of 1356 gave Berndt top place on the leader board and a sponsor prize of €100 for that position.

This was the first of two six-game blocks. The qualifying is over 12 games with the option of a re-entry to better one of the blocks if so desired.

TOP TEN STANDINGS AFTER SQUAD 1: