Diana tops singles, All Events in May Masters

Diana Camacho owned the 33rd CNMI May Masters Tournament as she posted two more division wins in last weekend’s competition at the Saipan Bowling Center.

Saipan Bowling Association president Jerry Tan, left, congratulates singles champion Diana Camacho during the awards ceremony for the 33rd CNMI May Masters Tournament last Sunday at the Nami Bar of Kanoa Resort. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Camacho, who was crowned May Masters queen after beating 16 other female bowlers, added the singles and All Events first place trophies to her collection.

In the singles event, Camacho registered a three-game total of 602 pinfalls to finish ahead of Kathy Mersai (559) and Lynn Santos (533). Camacho was behind Santos in Game 1, 196-235, but grabbed the lead after gaining 217 pinfalls in Game 2 against the latter’s dismal 128. Camacho closed out with a 189 in Game 3 to take the singles crown, while Santos slid to third after recording 170 in the final game. Mersai, who started the tournament with a 169, showed consistency in the last two games, logging 199 and 191 to move up to second place in the 19-player singles field.

In the All Events, Camacho averaged 171.89 to beat Mersai (167.56) anew and last year’s winner Gloria Omechelang (167.56). Camacho added the 444 and 501 pinfalls she got from the doubles and team events to her 602 in the singles to earn 1,547 pinfalls, 39 more than Mersai’s total. The eventual runner-up bagged 449 in the doubles and 500 in the team to collect 1,508 pinfalls. Omechelang totaled 1,495, built from her 495 in the singles and 453 and 547 in the doubles and team events, respectively.

Omechelang also made it to the champions circle in last weekend’s competition after topping the doubles event with Tess Fabie. The duo combined for 1,003 pinfalls with Fabie contributing 520 (155, 204, and 161) and Omechelang adding 483 (178, 168, 137). Incidentally, Fabie and Omechelang, who topped last year’s doubles event, too, also finished third this season as their second set of games netted them 990 pinfalls (494 for Omechelang and 496 for Fabie).

Ron Cal and Yho Villavicencio joined Omechelang and Fabie in the Top 3 after registering 998 pinfalls. Villavicencio had a three-game total of 552 (204, 176, and 172), while Cal chipped in 446 (155, 127, and 164.

Meanwhile, in the team event, the foursome of Santos, Mersai, Omechelang, and Fabie prevailed against four other squads after combining for 1,983 pinfalls. Fabie had the biggest contribution to the champion squad with her 525 (216, 143, and 166), followed by Mersai (500), Omechelang (491), and Santos (467)

Omechelang and Fabie also played together with Gigi Zapanta and Cal and they totaled 1,960 to rank second in the team event. This time, Omechelang had the most pinfalls among the four players with her 547 (139, 230, and 178), while Cal added 493 and Fabie and Zapanta logged 476 and 444, respectively.

Villavicencio, Elena Soll, Lala Taitano, and Diana Chong rounded out the Top 3 after earning 1,872 pinfalls. Soll was the top scorer for the third finishers with her 491 (152, 180, and 159), while Villavicencio, Chong, and Taitano recorded 475, 455, and 451.

The top finishers in each division were given trophies and cash prizes during the awards ceremony held last Sunday at the Nami Bar of Kanoa Resort.