KUALA LUMPUR: The national bowlers dominated the first round of the Malaysian Open masters, with Hariz Adlan and Nur Syazwani Sahar dominating their respective men's and women's events in Bandar Sunway today.
Youth bowler Hariz topped the men's masters with 1,812 pinfalls, followed by Megat Zaqrul Haiqal Megat Zairudin (1,761) and Hafiz Zainuddin (1,745).
Defending champion Rafiq Ismail fought his way back to finish ninth with a 1,698 total.
In the women's event, Sabah's Intan Qistina started strongly with a sizzling 259 in her opening game to lead Sweden's Anna Andersson by five pins.
National bowler Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman tailed close behind on 245.
Andersson took the lead after the second game, but another national kegler, Faten Najihah Ahmad Faik, pulled ahead with 237 pins.
However, Syazwani stole the lead with a stunning 247 in her fifth game, adding to her earlier four-game total of 884 pinfalls.
Syazwani ended the eight-game round one with scores of 236 and 276 to clinch the top spot with a 1,836 total.
Two-time national champion Sharon Koh finished second with 1,752, followed by Faten Najihah (1,749).
The top three women and men in the masters will qualify for the stepladder finals tomorrow.
The champion in the men's event will earn US$10,500 (RM50,000) while the women's winner will receive US$6,300 (RM30,000).