Camacho wins women’s singles

Diana Camacho won the singles title of the 23rd May Masters Bowling Tournament yesterday at the Saipan Bowling Center in San Jose.

Camacho played consistently through the three-game series and then held off a late charge by eventual runner-up Rizza Hensley to secure her first ever singles title in the May Masters.

“I’ve been playing in the May Masters for many years now and it’s my first time to take home the singles championship. I’m pretty happy for this achievement and I hope my luck holds up throughout the All-Events and then the Masters,” she said shortly after being informed of her victory.

Camacho steadily improved her game, rolling a 175 in her first game, knocking down 185 in her second, before capping off her stint with a 191 for a 551 pinfall total and 183.6 average.

Hensley, for her part, got off on the wrong foot and had a miserable 152 her first trip to the wooden lanes. She rebounded with a 178 in her second game before hitting her stride in the third with a 211 for a 541 total and 180.3 average.

Lucy Deleon Guerrero (529), Emi Williams (524), and Rita Palacios (510) make up the top five in the women’s singles competition.

Camacho also bagged the top two spots in the women’s doubles event, pairing with Rita Palacios (1,085) to take the championship as well as the runner-up spot with Emi Williams (1,048). Third place went to Deleon Guerrero and Palacios with their 991.

In the women’s team event, the foursome of Cindy Taitano, Becky Reyes, Elena Soll, and Ron Call are in the lead with two teams still yet to play.

Mike Guirey, meanwhile, is currently leading the men’s division with two shifts remaining. The Baguio, Philippines native rolled a three-game total of 692 for an impressive 230.6 pinfall average.

“I hope my score holds up. I played a very good three games and I’m keeping my fingers crossed the next few hours,” he said.

A win by Guirey would assure the 40-year-old M&D Air-conditioning and General Merchandise employee a second straight May Masters singles title. In 2004, he shared the honor with veteran kegler Jess Rebusada.

The current top five consist of Raymond Zapanta (679), Rebusada (667), Robert Talavera (654), and Jun Canillo (630).

In the men’s doubles event, Raul Dumapit and Dannie Robles are currently in pole position with 1,279 pinfalls, followed by Richard Leong and Jess Rebusada (1,246), brothers Robert and Edgar Talavera (1,206), brothers Ruselle and Raymond Zapanta (1,204), and Guirey and Edgar Talavera (1,193).

The men’s team event has the Talavera brothers, Mark “The Shark” Halstead, and Jonathan Hensley leading the pack with a third of the field finished playing.