Bowling: Jazreel Tan finishes third in US Open

SINGAPORE - National bowler Jazreel finished third in the US Open after being eliminated in the penultimate round of the stepladder finals.

The 25-year-old Singaporean had qualified as the fourth seed for the match-play round on Monday morning (Singapore time) and defeated three-time US Open champion Kelly Kulick, who was the fifth and final qualifer, by a score of 195-190.

Tan won her next match of the televisied final, beating another American Danielle McEwan 172-165 at the Brunswick Zone Carolier in New Jersey.

She fell at the next hurdle however, losing 177-199 to defending champion Liz Johnson, who would go on to beat compatriot Shannon O'Keefe 190-189 in the tense final and claim the US$50,000 winner's cheque.

This was the 41-year-old Johnson's fourth US Open title and she became the first player to successfully defend the title since Dorothy Fothergill in 1969.

For her third-placed efforts, Tan, who won the Professional Women's Bowling Association Lubbock Sports Open in July, earned US$14,500 (S$20,631).

Fellow Singaporeans Shayna Ng, Daphne Tan and New Hui Fen finished 17th, 19th and 23rd respectively in the tournament.

jonwong@sph.com.sg