Korean rising

The Korean challenge surfaced after the first block Men's Open in the Pesta Penang International Bowling championship yesterday, but the Malaysian men bowlers were still within striking distance to check the threat.

It was Korean's No 1 bowler and Pesta Penang champion in 2005, Choi Bok Eum, who was the leader after the first block of ten games with a total pinfall of 2,426 yesterday evening at the Mega Lanes, Prai, Penang.

Choi had earlier in the day won the Youth Boys Open title, where national youth bowler Jonathan Chan, finished runners-up and another Korean, Jang Dong Chul finishing third.

Close at hand finishing second in the Men's Open was national bowler, Daniel Lim, 68 pins behind Choi, while southpaw Alex Liew finished third with 2,341.

Another national bowler, Muhd Nur Aiman finished fourth with his score of 2,292.

Other national bowlers whom made the cut were Penangites, Adrian And and Aaron Kong - fifth and sixth respectively - and two national back-up bowlers - Mohd Noer Said (9th) and Kelvin Keong (10th)

However, defending champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli, failed to make the cut to be among the top 12 bowlers from the 28 who made the cut for the final round yesterday.

Zulmazran finished 17th with his total of 2,068, while another national bowler who failed to make the cut was Syafiq Ridhwan who was placed 14th with a total of 2,105.

Zulmazran's small consolation was that he emerged the singles winner with his total score of 962. Syafiq was second and Daniel third.

However, in the Women's Open, veteran and pro bowler Shalin Zulikfli, showed that she was still the boss, when she finished tops with a total of 2,225, but had Holland's Ghislaine Vander Tol breathing down her neck just two pins behind her in second place.

In third spot was Indonesia's Tannya Roumimper (2,213) while national bowlers Zatil Iman and Sin Li Jane occupier fourth and fifth spot with their scores of 2,173 and 2,149 respectively.

Defending champion, Sharon Koh made the cut of top ten bowlers from the 18 finalists, when she finished ninth with 2,016, while All Star Classic champion, Siti Safiyah was the last qualifier with her 2,006.

Sharon also won the singles title with her score of 902, with Sinagapore's Tan Yah Ling second and Esther third.

Another national bowler who made the cut was Milo International Junior All Stars Junior champion, Esther Cheah who finished eighth with 2,043 while national back-up bowler, Syakira Yeoh also made the cut when she finished in seventh spot (2,056).

All scores from the first block yesterday will be carried forward for the second and final block this morning where the men will 12 games round-robin (including one positional round), while the women will bowl 10 games (including one positional round) to determine the final placings.

In the Youth Girls final yesterday, it was Singapore Sports School's Michaela Oehler who won the title, with Korea's Jo Hyun Jung finishing second and Sabah's Nabilah Kassim on third spot.

In the Senior Masters, Sandra Sageran from Singapore was the champion with a total score of 2,038 over ten games, while former national bolwer, Y.H. Ng representing KL Megalanes was second and Thailand's Terdporn M finishing third.

Top 12 men for final round today:

1. Choi Bok Eum (Kor); 2. Daniel Lim (Mas); 3. Alex Liew (Mas); 4. Muhd Nur Aiman (Mas); 5. Gregory Gan (Spore); 6. Adrian Ang (Mas); 7. Aaron Kong (Mas); 8. Kim Jong Wook (Kor); 9. Mohd Noer Said (Nat back-up); 10. Kelvin Keong (Nat, Back-up); 11. Jang Dong Chul (Kor); 12. Yusuf Abdul Rauf (KL)

Top 10 women for final round today:

1. Shalin Zulkifli (Mas); 2. Ghislaine Vander Tol (Hol); 3. Tannya Roumimper (Indon); 4. Zatil Iman (Mas); 5. Sin Li Jane (Mas); 6. Kristel Ho (Spore); 7. Syakira Yeoh (Nat back-up); 8. Esther Cheah (Mas); 9. Sharon Koh (Mas); 10. Siti Safiyah Amirah (Mas)