World Cup: So close for Cherie

A mere three pinfalls.

That was what separated Cherie Tan from winning her first QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup title, and a second consecutive one for Singapore.

The 25-year-old lost 213-215 to Canada's Caroline Lagrange in a nail-biting third game in a best-ofthree step-ladder final at the Fireball Bowling Centre in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on Saturday.

Tan was just one pin away from a strike in the 11th frame of the final game, which would have given her an extra frame to seal a win.

But the seventh pin would not fall.

"It's really disappointing for me to lose by two pins," said Tan.

"I was bowling pretty good today, so I felt I had a chance to win. "I had to strike out to win because she (Lagrange) hadn't managed one.

"I threw a strike on the 10th frame, but not the 11th. It was a good shot, but sadly, the seventh pin stood." An open fourth frame in the match proved catastrophic for Tan, whose previous best finish at the World Cup was fourth in 2011.

Jasmine Yeong-Nathan won Singapore's first AMF World Cup title in 2008, and Shayna Ng repeated the feat last year.

Tan had done well earlier in the day to qualify for the knockout stage.

She racked up 1,878 pinfalls over eight games - an average of 234.75 - to move into the semi-finals, where she beat 2010 and 2011 world champion Aumi Guerra of the Dominican Republic. In the best-of-three match, she won the first game 214-208 and the second 245-203.

Tan advanced to the final to face Lagrange, and rallied after losing the first game 242-207 to win the second 247- 212, courtesy of strikes from the sixth to ninth frames.

But she could not keep up the momentum in the third game, as 2009 champion Lagrange reclaimed the world title.

However, Singapore enjoyed success through Shayna at the 36th Malaysian International Open Bowling Championship at Sunway Mega Lanes in Selangor yesterday. The 23-year-old knocked down 1,867 pinfalls over eight games, an average of 233.38.

Dayang Khairuniza of Malaysia finished second with 1,736 pinfalls (average 217), while third-placed Yang Su Jin of South Korea managed 1,716 pinfalls.

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