Qualifying round completed

The first two rounds of the 17th annual Malta Open Championships were completed yesterday at the Eden SuperBowl, where English duo Dom Barrett and 2001 champion Kirsten Penny top the male and female fields respectively.

Malta's best performances over 16 games have been from Rankin Camilleri who is 13th in the men's category while Sue Abela is fifth among the ladies.

Round one saw some fantastic play from the male participants, with England's Dom Barrett burning up the lanes to set a red hot pace with all 12 games over 200, most of them well over, including a pair of 279's, 278, 268, 265, 257 and a 251.

His stunning 3,022 round tally meant top spot, and an amazing 251.8 game average, ahead of defending champion Stu Williams, also from England , on 2,835 (236.2 ave).

Two-time champion Chris van Damme (2005, 2006) lay third on 2,773 (231 ave).

Neil Sullivan was Malta's best early hope amongst the men, placing a very good eighth after round one's 12 games on a 2,565 total.

Incredibly, due to unforeseen circumstances, Sullivan was unable to continue into round two, and leaves the honour of 'Best Placed Maltese Male' to be fought over by Camilleri and Mark Spiteri who only just scraped through to round three in 18th, the last qualifying position.

Round two saw more exceptional play from the likeable Barrett, who retained first class consistency to stay top with a 4,027 total (251.6 ave).

Van Damme moved up to second on 3714 (232.1 ave), ahead of Williams on 3655 pins (228.4).

England's Penny is having a great year so far, which continues with a top spot after sixteen games in the Malta Open.

Her 3,491 total (218.1 ave) puts her ahead of Dutch duo Nicole Sanders on 3,458 (216.1 ave), and Bianca Wiekeraard in third.