5th October, Bangkok: 2014 USBC Queens champion, Maria Jose Rodriguez of Colombia narrowly beat 2016 USBC Masters champion and American PBA pro, Anthony Simonsen of Austin, Texas to win the 2017 PBA-World Bowling Tour Thailand Round 2 Finals.

Simonsen, 20 and owner of two PBA Standard titles, got off the block with a cracking pace of 278 to lead Japan's Hiroki Takada by 22 pins. Takada added a superb 246 in his second game to share the lead with the American two-hander.

Rodriguez, who lives in Austin, Texas, trailed in third, 24 pins adrift the leading duo. Simonsen rolled a splendid 244 in the third game to remain in the lead while the Colombian shot a bigger game of 257 to narrow Simonsen's lead to just two pins.

As the leader stumbled to a lowly 181, Rodriguez took the opportunity to surge into the lead despite knocking down only 198. 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Singles gold medallist, Annop Arromsaranon moved into second spot with Simonsen slipping down to third.

29th SEA Games Doubles gold medallist, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia took fourth position with 1386 while desperado squad qualifier, Hassan Alshaikh of Saudi Arabia rounded out the top five with 1324. 2017 Pepsi PWBA Lincoln Open winner, Sin Li Jane of Malaysia finished sixth with 1323.

Annop took seventh position with 1317 ahead of Takada in eighth position with 1310. 2016 PWBA Wichita Open champion, Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, N.Y., finished in ninth position with 1278 and 29th SEA Games triple gold medallist, Shalin Zulkifli of Malaysia made the next round in tenth with 1262.

Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkit of Thailand, who was third before the final game, missed the cut by seven pins after ending on a disastrous 181 for a total of 1255. The top 10 advanced to Round 3 Finals (roll-off time 7.00pm local time) joined by qualifiers positioned 10 to 24 from the qualifying rounds.