Bowler Siti Safiyah takes Munich defeat in her stride

PETALING JAYA: National bowler Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman (pic) has every reason to smile despite missing out on her first European title by a whisker in the just concluded Brunswick Euro Challenge (BEC) in Munich, Germany.

The 27-year-old ended her campaign in the mixed-field tournament with a creditable fifth-place finish – her best-ever outing on the European Bowling Tour (EBT) – on Sunday.

Siti Safiyah did well to reach the third round (last eight) but she failed to make the top-three cut for the stepladder finals.

She posted a 15-game total of 3,210 pinfalls, including 1,500 brought forward from the previous round, but was 61 pins short from the title playoffs.

The three finalists were American Anthony Simonsen (3,408), Swede Jenny Wegner (3,281) and Thai Yannaphon Larpapharat (3,271).

Second seed Wegner, powered by the woman’s eight-pin handicap, went on to beat Yannaphon 233-214 and Simonsen 219-213 to capture her first EBT victory to become the only second female champion in the tournament’s 12-year history after Colombia’s Clara Guerrero in 2011.

Siti Safiyah was pleased as punch. “I’m so happy to have rediscovered my form. I didn’t do too well during my last two outings in Europe, this is refreshing,” said Siti Safiyah.

In January, she failed to qualify for the tournament proper in the AIK International Tournament in Stockholm, Sweden, and could only manage 34th spot in the Brunswick Ballmaster Open in Helsinki.

“I’ve played well all week long and even led the qualifying rounds at one stage. The BEC is one of the biggest events in Europe, so a fifth spot is a big achievement.”

Siti Safiyah banked in a total of

€

3,700 (RM18,000) for her effort,

€

including a 700 (RM3,400) extra payout by virtue of being the sec-

ond best woman finisher in the 383-player field event.

Earlier, Adrian Ang, Rafiq Ismail, Esther Cheah, Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek and Timmy Tan were eliminated after the second round (last 28).