Three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Muhd Rafiq Ismail (pictured left) of Malaysia and three-time runner-up Jazreel Tan from the host country Singapore paced the men's and women's Masters competition of the 28th edition of the SEA Games after the first block on medium oil Saturday at Orchid Bowl.

Ismail, who won the titles in Singles, Trios and Team, started the eight game match play round with his low game of 199 and added 269, 205, 247, 225, 279, 241 and 231 for 1896 pinfall total and the field-best 237 average.

He won six of his eight matches and received 60 bonus pins to lead the 16-player field with 1956 total.

His compatriot Ahmad Muaz (right) toppled 1758 pins (219.75) and received 70 bonus pins for the field-best 7-1 won-lost record to sit in second place with 1828.

Rounding out the top 3, who will advance to the stepladder finals after the second block on long oil, was Yannaphon Larp-apharat (left) of Thailand with 1791 including a 5-3 match play record.

The next three athletes, Billy M Islam of Indonesia (1789), Malaysia's Adrian Ang (1783) and Surasak Manuwong of Thailand (1782) were less than ten pins off the pace for the medals.

Jazreel Tan (right), who finished second in Singles, Trios and Team and also qualified for the Masters by finishing in second place in All-Events (combined scores in Singles, Doubles, Trios and Teams) out averaged her nearest competitor on the medium lane conditioning pattern by 16.5 pins.

Tan lost the first match with 180 and rebounded with seven consecutive wins including games of 235, 245, 259, 225, 258, 197 and 227 for 1826 pinfall, an average of 228.25, and 1896 including 70 bonus pins.

Krizziah Tabora (left), Philippines, was distant 152 pins behind with 1744 including a 5-3 W-L record and an average of 211.75. Tannya Roumimper (below right) of Indonesia was just four pins behind in third place with 1740 (211.25), also including 50 bonus pins.

Places 4-6 belonged to Singaporean bowlers New Hui Fen (1706), Trios champion Shayna Ng (1703) and Singles champion Daphne Tan (1671).

The best Malaysian bowler, Syaidatul Afifah, is tied with Daphne Tan at 1671.

All players will return on Sunday morning for the second block of eight games on long oil. The women will start at 10 a.m. Singapore Time and the men will follow at 1.30 p.m. The top 3 men and the top 3 women advance to the stepladder finals on Sunday starting at 5 p.m. (women) and 6.30 p.m. (men) Singapore Time.