March 6th: Two-time World champion and winner of two Asian Bowling Tour Masters Cup titles, Tom Hahl captures iMPACT 300 Bowling Tournament title and wins the S$20,000 top prize. Hahl was top-seeded after 12 games finals with a total score of 2,685 pinfalls for an impressive 223.8 average.

Australia's Michael Little was second in the finals with a score of 2,635 pinfalls while third was local Yap Ah Kim with a score of 2,581 pinfalls.

Fourteen pins away was Steven Ang with 2,547 in fourth and Abdul Rahiman with 2,539 pinfalls in fifth making the final stop for the step-ladder grand finals.

No scores are available for the step-ladder grand finals but the order of finish is:

February 22nd: Finish bowler Pasi Marjamaki came as close as a pin away from a 300 perfect game on the opening day of the first Impact 300 All-Comers Bowling Tournament at Superbowl Marina South in Singapore today.

He blasted 10 strikes in a row. But on the 11th frame, he demolished all except pin 7 which wobbled for a few heart-rending seconds before staying put.

A perfect game would have earned Pasi $30,000, courtesy of Superbowl. But if any other bowler were to equal that feat during the competition, then the prize money will be shared equally.

The 24-year-old Finn, who has been working in Singapore for the last four months, was, nonetheless, unruffled by the experience.

He said: "Well, it is quite disappointing, of course. But I should always look at things positvely and hope for another day for it to happen.

"I started off badly, so I told myself to relax. And then my game began to pick up. My confidence grew. And that's how I came so close. Overall, I am quite happy with my game. I may be trying for another MQ."

Pasi's 4-game scores were 140, 246, 244 and 289 to total 919 pinfalls to lead the overseas bowlers' qualifying table. This is Pasi's second close call in Singapore. Last year, he scored a 299 in the Santa Claus Open at Victor's Superbowl. Pasi has so far scored 9 perfect games in his 8-year bowling career.

Meanwhile, senior bowler, Abdul Rahiman took full advantage of his 40-pin handicap when he bowled scored 929 over 4 games to take the lead in the local bowlers' qualifying table. Silverbowl's proprietor Steven Ang is second with a creditable scratch score of 870 which, together with his 20-pin handicap is second in the table with 890.

February 17th: Ann-Maree Putney of Australia, the 1999 FIQ World Championship Masters Gold medallist, heads the list of five world champions coming to take part in iMPACT 300: The All-Comers Bowling Tournament.

Ann-Maree confirmed her participation with a fax to the organisers and she will be arriving in Singapore on March 1st.

Ann-Maree who broke the world record when she won the Masters gold at the 15th FIQ World Championships in Abu Dhabi last year, is the current Australian Open singles champion.

The four other big names are from Finland. They are Antti-Pekka Lax (world champion in the Trios in Abu Dhabi last year, World Team Cup champion 1996); Ari Halme (world champion in the Trios in Abu Dhabi last year); Jouni Helminen (World Team Cup champion in 1996); and Tom Hahl (1990 World Cup champion, 1987 FIQ World Championships Masters bronze, 5-times European Cup champion, 20 FIQ medals including World FIQ Gold medal, Asian Bowling Tour 1999 double Masters Cup champion, 19 perfect games). Tom Hahl is now a permanent resident of Singapore.

Another Finn, Pasi Marjamaki, who is also competing, was the runner-up in the 1999 Thai Open.

Andrew Frawley of Australia has also given strong indication that he would be coming. Frawley won the gold medal in the All-Events in the FIQ Asian Zone championship in 1990, 91 and 92. He also won the Asian Bowling Tour's Korea Masters Cup and took part in the Grand Slam Finals early this year in Singapore.

Strong teams are also expected from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea and Malaysia. These teams have been making regular inquiries through their respective national associations, particularly over the last few weeks.

Mr Perfect, Jack Wong will lead the local challenge. Jack Wong has earned 8 SEA Games caps, and 6 gold medals. He was the 1998 Asian Bowling Tour Thailand Masters Cup champion, won the Seoul Olympic (exhibition sport) silver medal, was 5-times national champion, scored 6 perfect games.

Jack, despite no longer in the national squad, is still very active. He finished third behind David Neo and Tan Yong Seng in the Champion of Champions Tournament early this year.