The qualifying tournament for the 2007 European Gold Cup is ongoing at the Eden SuperBowl, organised by the Malta Tenpin Bowling Association. The winning male and female bowlers will then travel to Paphos, Cyprus in May to compete in the 31st edition of these annual international championships.
After 12 round one games, Pam D’Emanuele leads the Ladies’ field, while last year’s winner, and defending European Gold Champion Philippe Vancell, is top of the Men’s classification.
Men’s Division - Vancell looking to repeat 2006 Victory
Philippe Vancell became the first Maltese tenpin bowler in history to be crowned European Gold Cup Champion, after winning the 2006 edition in Loetz, Luxembourg.
A chance to travel to Cyprus to defend his title would be a dream come true for the young bowler, and after round one Vancell holds a narrow lead over the men’s division.
Round one consisted of two six-game sessions, and Vancell was second after day one, playing a 199.6 game average but settling for second place on 1198, 13 pins behind Bertram Vella whose tally was boosted by his 4-pin game handicap. Justin Caruana Scicluna lay third at this interim stage on 1193 pins (193.8 aveRAGE).
Day two saw Vella’s game slip only slightly, but Vancell was more consistent, shooting a steady 1,162 to go first with 1,360 pins from his twelve games. Justin Caruana Scicluna improved to a very close second on 2,343 pins, while Bertram Vella goes through to the next round in third place.
Ladies Division - D’Emanuele leads the way
Pamela D’Emanuele came through her initial six games at the top of the Ladies’ division, rolling a scratch 1,103 (183.8 ave) featuring a 223 opening game, and was buoyed by her 12-pin handicap for a gross total of 1,175. 2006 winner Ben Carannante was in second place with her 1,128 total, while Marthese Cossai held third place on 1,087 pins.
D’Emanuele had another good start in the second session, rolling off with a 222 opening game, and having to wait till the final game to break 200 again, a 224 proving to be her game of the event to date.
She held her top spot by 99 pins, chased by second placed Stephanie Said who can be pleased with her 2,323 effort (2179 scratch, 181.5 average). Marthese Cossai remained third on 2237, while Carannante slipped to fourth on 2,190 pins.
Round two will feature the top 16 from each division, playing a further six games before being whittled down to the top six males and females for the penultimate Round-Robin stage, and then the top three from each will contest the Stepladder finals.