JEDDAH, 29 May 2007 — The race for 26 qualifying spots went in full swing on Sunday with Saudi Rashid Al-Farraj keeping the top spot in the standings and another Saudi Mohammed Bin Sultan passing Jordanian Ammar Yamin overnight at second in the 1st Kingdom International Open Bowling Tournament at the Universal Bowling Center in Riyadh.
The staging of the tournament where the champion will receive the grand prize of $25,000 coincided with the inauguration on Sunday of the spanking new 30-lane center that sits inside the sprawling Prince Faisal ibn Fahd Olympic Complex in Naseriyah area in the Kingdom capital.
Besides the major prizes there will be daily cash prize of $500 to the highest scorer. The first runner-up will receive $12,000, second runner-up $8,000, third runner-up $5,000 and fourth runner-up $3,000. The sixth to 10th placers will each $1,000. In case a non-Saudi wins the tournament a separate winner-take-all prize of $5,000 will be at stake in the sideline match between the champion and the best-placed Saudi bowler. This comes as an incentive to the Saudi bowlers. A brainchild of Prince Abdul Hakim ibn Musaed ibn Abdul Aziz, himself a good bowler, the center was built at a cost of SR 20 million to satisfy the growing demand for better bowling facilities and help spur the growth of bowling in the Kingdom.
“The center simply wants to serve the society, not only through offering bowling but also to entertain the whole family,” the prince said adding the center plans to host at least two international tournaments annually.
“We are happy that the center is finally open so we can train on a regular basis from now on,” said Hassan Al-Ashaikh, one in a line of Saudi bowlers who will benefit hugely from the new bowling center.
“It looks like things would be different hopefully and many Saudi bowling fans will join and train and develop their skills,” he added.
To run for 13 days the qualifying has 26 spots up for grabs and to complete the round of 32 the seeded four Saudi bowlers and two so-called super bowlers will join the qualifiers. A competitor must bowl a minimum of three blocks of three games each during the preliminary round of the multiple entry tournament.
Al-Farraj rolled the leading tally so far of 1,875 pinfalls. Bin Sultan attempted afresh to overtake Yamin with 1,864. Yamin was on 1,839 for third place followed by Filipino Ernee Noto on 1,776 pitfalls.
Standings as of Sunday:
1. Rashid Al-Farraj (KSA) 1875 2. Mohammed Bin Sultan (KSA) 1864 3.Ammar Yamin (Jordan) 1839 4. Ernee Noto (Philippines) 1776 5. Mohammed Abed Elwahab (Egypt) 1685 6. Yaser Abureish (KSA) 1675 7. A. Hakim ibn Mousad (KSA) 1647 8. Mansour Bin Sultan (KSA) 1627 9. Hasan Al-Anazi (KSA) 1567 10. Abdurrahman Burhani (KSA) 151711. Abdul Aziz ibn Mousad (KSA) 1442 12.Talal ibn Sultan (KSA)1430 13. Abdullah Amoudi (KSA) 1402 14.Thamer Al Meshari (KSA)1383 15. Turki Al-Essa (KSA)1363 16.Saad Al Bazi(KSA)1355 17. Ahmed Al Hadyan (KSA) 1237 18. Bader Al- Shaikh (KSA) 1185 19. Abdulallh Alganem (KSA) 1110 20. Ric Urrutia (Philippines) 1078 21. Hasan Al-Shaikh (KSA)1031 22. Ali Jafaar (KSA)943 23. Raed Al Taher (Jordan) 819 24. Mohammad Abulsaoud (KSA) 521 25. Frank Ranera (Philippines) 497 26. Arthur Yukong (Philippines) 461.
