KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Merwin Tan made heads turn in Clovis, California over the weekend after capturing the PBA Bowlers Academy Open title.

Tan, who ended the country’s 11-year gold-medal drought in the 31^st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last year, tallied 216 pinfalls to win the tournament.

He edged out PJ Haggerty from Roseville, California, who wound up with a silver with a 203 pinfalls.

Tan topped qualifying round with 2946 pinfalls after 13 games, followed by Haggerty with 2905.

The PH bet bested Nickolas Frieberg of Sparksville, Nevada and Brandon Kring of North Highlands, California to advance to the gold-medal match.

Fellow national team member Patrick Neil Nuqui, meanwhile, failed to advance to the Final 8 after finishing 10^th.

Tan pocketed the $2,500 top purse (around P135,000) top prize, while Haggerty received $1,600.