Li Jane miss out on bowling jackpot in South Korea

PETALING JAYA: National bowler Sin Li Jane has missed out on an eyewatering 50mil won (RM184,000) winner’s jackpot after her fine campaign ended at the Samho Korea Cup in Suwon.

The 26yearold did well to reach the quarterfinals of the Korean Professional Bowlers Association (KPBA) Tour’s flagship event that offers a whopping 300mil won (RM1.1mil) in prize money.

Li Jane, a threetime European Bowling Tour (EBT) winner, needed just one more win to make top four stepladderfinals but she lost 31 (209215, 253255, 241235, 198199) to homester Park Changseob to finish joint fifth.

Still, it was an improved outing for Li Jane who made it to the last 16 last year.

Prior to her exit, Li Jane overcame a tough opening hurdle against sixtime US PBA Tour winner Dominic Barrett of England with a 20 (255247, 287258) victory.

She went to beat another two Koreans Anh Heungsoo 21 (241257, 254185, 235215) and Kim Minwoo (Kor) 32 (202209, 276263, 266237, 265279, 286233) in the last 32 and last 16.

Shalin Zulkifli, the only other Malaysian invited by organisers to make up the massive 340player field contest, also impressed with a joint ninth place effort.

The 40yearold ousted homester Kwon Youngdae 21 (220204, 222265, 234168) and American PBA Tour’s Matt Sanders 21 (176180, 252173, 226207) before going down 31 (215210, 182230, 200225, 199203) to Park Sooyoung of South Korea in the last 16.

Li Jane walked away with 7.1mil won (RM26,000) while Shalin, too, will have no complaints with her 4mil won (RM15,000) paycheck.

Despite missing out on the title playoffs by a whisker, Li Jane was pleased with how things have panned out.

“I did my best here in Korea. It was a fantastic outing considering I went one better than last year,” said Li Jane, who finished fifth at the World Bowling Tour (WBT) in Thailand last week.

“The tournament brings together a worldclass field of competitors comprising the American and European top pros, so to be able to beat some of the top guys was already an achievement.

“You have to be really good to be invited to bowl with the Korean pros. It’s a great privilege to be part of this massive event again this year.

I am looking forward to return next year for another shot at winning it.”

Earlier, Li Jane and Shalin made the 64player knockout stage by virtue of being the top 16 finishers in their respective groups. Li Jane finished the preliminary 10game rolloff in 10th spot in the Group C and Shalin ended up in the same position in Group D.