SHALIN Zulkifli achieved her ultimate dream in the sport and also created a new chapter in Malaysian bowling history when she became the first Malaysian to qualify for the Professional Bowlers' Association (PBA) Women's Tour when she finished sixth after four blocks in the United States Women's Open at Brunswick Zone in Illinois on Monday.

It's a commendable feat, considering Shalin had only turned professional in May and has only played in two professional regional tournaments in the US before this event.

Shalin has been waiting for this day for the last 16 years since making her national debut at 14.

"I'm still in a daze. It's like I'm dreaming. Sixteen long years and finally I have achieved it," Shalin said when contacted in Illinois yesterday.

"Now, I'm one of the top bowlers in the professional world. I have a chance to compete on a regular basis with these pros. I'm not thinking about targets just yet. I'm still trying to catch my breath.
"When I first came to compete in the event, my goal was to earn a spot on the Women's Tour. I knew it will be tough but I told myself that the US Open is the only trial for the tour and considering that I have been working hard all these years to reach this stage, I was determined not to waste this chance."

In the final block on Monday, Shalin produced the delivery lines of 194, 233, 228, 192, 203, 194, 201, 226 for a 1,671 total. Her four-block or 32-game aggregate of 6,740 pinfalls, averaging 210.63, puts her in sixth placing, the best non-American achiever.

Shalin, together with 11 other bowlers will join Liz Johnson, Diandra Asbaty, Shannon Pluhowsky, and Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, all last year's Women's Tour winners, in the coming edition consisting seven events starting in late October.

Shalin can consider herself as the fourth best bowler in the trial as Diandra and Carolyn, who also finished in the top-12 in the US Open, have qualified for the tour.

In the top 16 knockout stage yesterday, Shalin, the 2001 World Tenpin Masters champion, took on 11th seed Tenelle Milligan, a member of the United States team, in a one-game roll-off match.

Meanwhile, Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi, who reeled off a 1,557 total in the fourth block, posted a grand total of 6,411 to finish 36th followed by Esther Cheah (54th -- 6,279) and Wendy Chai (90th -- 5,996).