Mika Koivuniemi shoots another perfecto to maintain lead in 11th Bahrain Open

    03/05/13

    Bahrain

    Finn leads 46-player field after Squad A & B have completed qualifying with 244.69 average

    2013BOMikaKoivuniemi3.jpg2013BODominicBarrett2.jpgMika Koivuniemi (pictured left) of Finland, who led the qualifying of the 11th Bahrain Open after the first block, rolled his second 300 game Monday at Ozone Entertainment Center in Sitra en route to maintain his lead as Squad A & B have completed qualifying.

    The two-time WTBA World Bowling Tour point ranking leader added 1947 to his 1968 first-block series to lead the 46-player field with 3915 and an average of 244.69 for 16 games. Koivuniemi's second perfecto came in game seven (15 overall). He also had seven games between 201 and 258.

    2013BORyanLalisang.jpg2012EBT16PaulMoor.jpgKoivuniemi widened his lead from eight to 109 pins with fellow PBA champion Dominic Barrett (above right) of England in second place at 3806 (237.88). The 2012 European Bowling Tour point ranking leader totaled 1852 in the second Block to overtake Ryan Lalisang (left), Indonesia, by three pins.

    Lalisang fell one spot to third place with 3803 (237.69) behind an 1843 series. Three-time EBT point ranking winner Paul Moor (right), England, move from fifth to fourth with 1851 and 3722 total (232.63). The top 4 bowlers all bowled in Squad B.

    2013BOMahmoodAlAttar.jpg201213PBA03AbdullaFawaz.jpgSquad A leader Mahmood Al-Attar (left), UAE, used the second-highest 1874 series to jump from 11th to fifth place with 3673 (229.56). The sixth place in the overall standings will go to the top Bahraini, if there is no local bowler among the top 5.

    Fawaz Abdulla (right) currently mans the spot with 3615 and an average of 225.94. The top 6 players including the top Bahraini at the end of the qualifying will earn three byes and will automatically advance to Round 5.

    2012EBT17KimBolleby.jpgWith Squad A & B having completed qualifying, Kim Bolleby (left) of Sweden currently holds the 27th and last spot to advance with 3179 and an average of 198.69. Bolleby won two consecutive tournaments in Arabia last year, the 3rd Dubai International Bowling Tournament in the UAE and the H.H. Emir's Cup.

    The players of Squad C, D & E will roll their first block on Tuesday and will conclude qualifying on Wednesday with the second block.

    Total 30 players will advance to the finals on Thursday and Friday including the top 27 qualifiers, the next two Bahrainis and the top-ranked woman (women receive seven pins handicap). Players 1-6 receive three byes. If there is no Bahraini player among the top 5, the best Bahraini will be seeded sixth.

    Players 7-12 will receive two byes and players 13-18 earn one bye. The other 12 players advance to Final Round Two. Final Round 2-4 consist of six games scratch with the top six players advancing to the next round.

    The remaining twelve players bowl a final six-game Block in Round Five to determine the top three players who will bowl for the title and the 7,500 Bahraini Dinar (approx. US$19.385) first place check.

     


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    Mika Koivuniemi shoots 300 on his way to take early lead in 11th Bahrain Open

     


    Qualifying Standings after 16 games (Squad A & B only)

    * indicates female bowler (scores including seven pins handicap)

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