Norway's Tore Torgersen (pictured left) posted a huge 1429 series Saturday afternoon at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria, en route to lead the top 18 players - 15 men and 3 women - into the third an final round before the stepladder finals of the 7th Columbia 300 Vienna Open.

Torgersen had games of 279, 247, 215, 234, 165 and 289 to lead Doubles winner Stuart Williams (right), England, by 42 pins. Williams, who is exempt on the 2009-1ß PBA Tour, started his series with a 299 game and added five games between 193 and 246 for 1387 pinfall total.

Austria's Thomas Gross (left)  was third with 1360 and was followed by Rob Thurlby, England, with 1357 and Tobias Karlsson, Sweden, with 1355.

The second Austrian, Leo Grundschober, (right) made the cut in sixth place with 1346.

Former World Ranking Masters champion Britt Brøndsted (below, left), was the best of three women, who survived the second cut. The Dane had 1334 including 48 pins handicap, a standard for women on the European Bowling Tour, good for 7th place.

Her compatriot, Kamilla Kjeldsen, was 14th with 1272 and Lisanne Breeschoten, Netherlands, was 17th with 1221. Jimmy Mortensen (right), Denmark, took the 18th and final post to advance with 1216.

Among those who missed the cut, was Round 1 leader Lynda Barnes, United States, who finished in 23rd position with 1173.

Opposite to the first round, pinfall will be carried forward into Round 3. The remaining 18 players will bowl another 6-game block. The top 4 player with the highest 12-game total will advance to the stepladder finals.

The No. 4 seed meets the No. 3 in the opening match and the winner takes on the No. 2 seed for the right to bowl the top seed for the title, 100 ranking points and the 6.000 Euro top prize.

 

Bowlingdigital will provide live streaming from the final rounds on Sunday, Oct. 4 at Plus Bowling in Vienna, Austria and from the stepladder finals starting at 5pm local time.