Jaris Goh retains lead at Singapore Sports School-Opulent bowling championship

Contributed by Terence Yaw

Singapore Sports School, Friday, June 10, 2010 — After leading for the first and second block in Squad B, Jaris Goh of Singapore Sports School retained his lead at the end of the third block qualifying round of the 4th Singapore Sports School-Opulent International Under-18 Bowling Championship on Thursday evening.

Jaris Goh wasted no time as he looked comfortable on the long oil pattern, scorching the lanes with a scintillating 254 opening game to stretch his lead to 84 pins ahead of his school-mate, Alexander Tan who was in second.

With 198 and 243 in his next two games, Goh had built up a commanding margin of 174 pins with Alexander still trailing in second as Tay Hui Wen closed the gap between herself and Alexander.

Despite hitting a 178 in the fourth game, Goh fired 203 and 221 to end the block with 1279, the highest six-game series of the day and an 18-game total of 3678. Filipinos, Kenneth Chua and Jayson Tubid both stormed home to take second and third with 3574 and 3474.

“I made a bad mistake by missing a single pin and then had two splits in my fourth game,” confessed Jaris Goh. “Apart from that, I’m happy with my performance. I’m also surprised that I’ve taken over top spot in the local pool.

“Although I’ve made the finals, I won’t let that get to me and I’ll treat the finals seriously and keep my full focus to do well.

After all the three squads have completed their three blocks of 18 games, Jaris led the local pool, just one pin ahead of Squad A block two leader, Brandon Lee of SingaporeBowling.

Justin Lim Chia Loong took third spot, followed by the top girl, Rachael Ang, who finished in fourth. Alwin Lau, Williie Quek, Keith Saw and Tay Hui Chiang completed the top eight qualifiers from the local pool.

Squad C leader, Yang Shih Hsien of Chinese Taipei headed the overseas pool followed by Leo Tse of Hong Kong in second and Kenneth Chua in third. Phumin Klanbida of Thailand and Chen Po Hsiang of Chinese Taipei rounds up the top five.

Filipino Jayson Tubid, Australian Chelsea Oliver and Hong Kong’s Alex Li made up the top eight qualifiers from the overseas pool. Tan Yan Ling headed the qualifiers from the mixed pool while Alexander Tan squeezed into 23rd position on an average of 191.83.

Dechochai Tinjiratip of Thailand, who gets a bye into the finals as defending champion, had in fact totaled the highest 18-game from the three blocks with 3692 and would make the Thai youngster a firm favourite.

The top 24 will bowl a total of 12 games from scratch with the girls receiving an eight-pin handicap each game. The top three at the end of the finals will advance into the stepladder finals.

Visit the Singapore bowling or the Singapore Sports School website for full results.