19th December, Prai: Jennifer Tan and Jack Wong gave Singapore a double celebration by winning the Ladies' and Men's Open Masters title of the 32nd Penang Pesta International Open which concluded at Mega Lanes Seberang Prai this afternoon.

The 26-year-old Singapore National bowler found Penang island a happy hunting ground to reclaim the title she won in 2002 while season campaigner and veteran, Jack Wong outclassed a field of younger opponents to capture the men's title.

Tan, who led the first block of 10 games yesterday, lost the lead at the start of this morning 12-game round-robin finals to Malaysia's Sarah Yap. By the end of the 15th game, she was 27 pins behind the leader going into the final position-round match. A high game of 235 saw Tan snatching the tile from Yap with a total score of 4513.

"I didn't think I could catch the leaders up at the halfway mark but I just thought at least I could try not to drift too far apart," said the 2004 champion. "I had to go all out to try to reclaim the title which I wasn't able to defend last year."

In the men's division, ex-international and a season campigner, re-lived his glorious days when at 52, Jack Wong captured the crown by an impressive margin. The champion, who led the first block yesterday, never gave his opponents any chance at all by building up a comfortable margin.

Wong ended his outing with a score of 5588 over the gruelling 16-game round-robin finals, 98 pins ahead of Malaysia's Zulmazran Zulkifli and newly-crown Milo Junior All Stars champion, Aaron Kong on 5490 and 5404 pinfalls respectively.

"It's now quite difficut to travel much and compete especially being tied down to my business and having no sponsors," said the newly-crowned champion. Asked if he is looking to coming back into the national squad, he responded by saying that it was difficult as it takes up too much time.

Sarah Yap, who settled for second must have been disappointed after having built-up a decent margin at the halfway mark. "I had to take a nature's call in game 10 and when I returned, I lost my rythmn and bowl a bad game of 137," said Yap.

Korea's Kim Hyo-Mi finished third ahead of fellow-countrywoman, Choi Jin A in fourth while defending champion, Shalin Zulkifli ended up fifth. Rohezan A Manaf of PBC Singapore and Korea's Kim Kyung-Min also finished fourth and fifth positions in the men's division.

Other Malaysian national men in the finals were Daniel Lim (9th), Eric Ang (10th), Adrian Ang (11th), Alex Liew (13th) and Azidi Ameran (15th). Christyn Chew (10th), Yap Pui Yee (12th) and Elain Lam (12th) completed the finals in the last three positions.

The Jack Wong took home RM10,000 for his effort while Jennifer Tan pocketed RM5,000. The 32nd edition of the Penang Pesta International Open Bowling Championship started on the 11th and ended to day. The tournament was organised in conjuction with the annual Penang Pesta celebrations.

Photos courtesy of PTBPP.

18th December, Prai: Satwant Singh, popularly known as Singho, bagged the Men's Graded Masters title of the 32nd Penang Pesta International Open at Mega Lanes Seberang Prai late this evening.

The engineer with Komag in Penang, led all the way to win the title when he started superbly with a high game of 262 and then followed up with consistent scores to romp home with a 12-game total of 2469.

"When I first started to bowl in competition, I was the only sheik and naturally I had a lot of supporters. Most of the time, they would cheer "Singh Ho" - Ho means good in Chinese here. And before I knew it, everybody started calling me Singho and I have adopted this nickname because it has brought me a lot of good luck," said the 32-year-old spinner.

"Before I started this evening's finals, my wife had a good feeling that I will bring home something and winning the title is probably my best acheivement so far," added Singho, who started bowling seven years ago.

Selangor's Chan Kai Wah, bowling for Century Logistics finished second with 2436, 36 pins behind the champion while Heric Chong came home third with 2431. Singho pocketed the top prize of RM8,000 with Chan winning RM3,000 and Chong settling for RM1,500.

Singapore's Johnny Lee of PBC finished a creditable fourth with 2390 ahead of Selangor's youth, William Koh in fifth place with 2378. A total of 24 finalist contest the Men's Graded Masters.

Photos courtesy of PTBPP.

18th December, Prai: 2002 World Ranking Masters champion, Jennifer Tan and ABF Tour Singapore leg champion, Jack Wong gave Singapore a good start when they took the lead of the first block Open Masters finals of the 32nd Penang Pesta International at Mega Lanes this afternoon.

Jennifer Tan snatched the lead from Malaysia's Sarah Yap in the final 10th game of the Ladies' Open Masters first block with 234 against Yap's 147 after having trailed the latter for most of the 10-game roll-off. Tan totalled 2063, 47 pins ahead of Yap.

"I wasn't disappointed for not being chosen to represent Singapore in the AMF World Cup because I feel that Valerie would stand a better chance in the tournament," said the leader. "Besides my best showing this year was a Bronze medal in the Asian Championship in Bangkok."

"The lanes were difficult last year when I couldn't defend the title I won in 2002, but this year it seems to suit me more. Although I'm in the lead, it could be anybody's game tomorrow." Korea's Choi Jin A did well to stay with the leaders in third with 2011.

Meanwhile in the men's division, ABF Tour Singapore leg champion, Jack Wong proved that at age 52, he still has some fire left in him. Wong bowled 10 games in the Senior Masters in the morning and finished third and another 10 games in the first block, he still manage to string good games to stay in front.

"Although some people thought that I have laid off bowing for a while, but in fact I am still actively practicing and bowing competitively," said Wong, who led the field with a score of 2189.

Malaysia's Zulmazran Zulkifli, who stormed home with a superb 289 in the 10th game and almost caught up with Wong, settled for second, just 6 pins adrift with 2183. Ex-national spinner turned hook-ball bowler, Mustafa Yassin took third spot with 2172.

AMF Bowling World Cup rookie, Daniel Lim and newly-crowned Milo Junior All Stars champion, Aaron Kong made up the top 5 in fourth and fifth with 2107 and 2094 respectively.

Malaysians in the finals were Milo Junior All Stars runner-up, Eric Ang (9th-2011), Alex Liew (11th-1994), Adrian Ang (15th-1952), Azidi Ameran (16th-1932). Ben Heng (22nd-1854) failed to make the cut.

The top 16 men and top 12 ladies made the cut for the round-robin semifinals on Sunday (December 19th) to determine this year's champion. The Men's Graded finals will commence later this evening.

Photos courtesy of PTBPP.

18th December, Prai: Ex-national Rohaya Abdul Rahim of Penang captured the Ladies' Graded Masters crown of the 32nd Penang Pesta International Open while Pahang's Hamzah Amin took home the Senior Masters title.

The 24-year-old administrative clerk with TM Net Sdn Bhd in Penang, outclassed a field of 13 finalists to post a total of 1931 in the 10-game finals this morning. The eldest daughter of eight, she started bowling when her father frequented the bowling centres for league.

"I set out this morning with a target of doing well and I'm happy to have come away with this win," said Rohaya, who had to quit the national team due to work committment. "I also hope to do well in the Open division finals later today," added the champion.

Singapore PBC's Cindy Ho finished second, 152 pins away with 1779 while Youth Girl's Graded Masters champion, Nur Hidayah Adam settled for third spot with 1751. Johara Johari of Penang and Poziah Atan of Selangor completed the top 5 in fourth and fifth positions.

The Senior Masters finals were also held at the same time this morning at Megalanes Seberang Prai. Veteran, Hamzah Amin triumphed with an impressive score of 2131 for the 52-year-old from Kuantan. The champion held on to the lead and win from ex-international, Ng Yiew Hup in second with 2058 while another season campaigner and ABF Tour Singapore leg champion, Jack Wong of Singapore in third spot with 2026.

Penang's Hamzah Ahamd took fourth position with 1984 ahead of PBC's Roger Tuar in fifth spot, just a further 2 pins adrift on 1982. A total of 16 senior bowlers competed in the finals played over 10 games.

The Ladies' and Men's Open Masters first block of 8 games will commence shortly and top 16 men and top 12 ladies will contest the Rund-Robin finals on Sunday (December 19th). The Men's Graded division Masters finals will be contested later this evening.

Photos courtesy of PTBPP.

17th December, Prai: Southpaws, Choi Bok-Eum of Korea and Sharon Koh of Malaysia triumphed in the Boy's and Girl's Open Masters finals of the 32nd Penang Pesta International Open contested this morning at Mega Lanes Seberang Prai.

The 15-year-old Asian Championship Gold medalist did not disappoint his coach, James Kim of Bowling Camp Korea, after winning comforatbly by 58 pins from Singapore's Carl de Vries. Choi, who only managed a third place finish in the Milo Junior All Stars last Sunday, made amends with a 10-game total of 2162.

De Vries, a member of the Singapore National team, settled for second with 2104 while Malaysian National youth member, Shafiq Ridhwan took third spot with 2061. Lenny Lim too fourth place on 2046 with Benjamin Hong and Ooi Hong Keong tieing in fifth with 1993.

Richard Foong (7th-1988), William Koh (8th-1971) and Adrian Charles Dragon (10th-1958) competed the top 10 of the Boy's Open Masters finals.

Meanwhile, Malaysia's National youth southpaw, Sharon Koh pipped SUKMA Games Gold medalist, Christyn Chew of Selangor for the Girl's title by just 2 pins. Despite a low score of 176 in the final and tenth game, Koh managed to hang on to the lead and the title.

Chew settled for second with a score of 1939 ahead of Penang Megalanes' Fatin Syazliana in third spot with 1882. National Champion, Jazreel Tan of Singapore came home in fourth position with 1871 followed by Irene Lee of Penang in fifth with 1860.

There is not much changes in the Men's and Ladies' Open leaderboard as moves into its final day. Scores wil be updated after each squad is completed until late tonight.

Photos courtesy of PTBPP.

16th December, Prai: Commonwealth Youth Games Gold medalist, Adrian Ang of Malaysia and Asian Games Gold medalist, Kim Hyo-Mi of Korea took over the lead in the Men's and Ladies' Open Masters qualifying table of the 32nd Penang Pesta International Open at Megalanes Seberang Prai.

15-year-old Adrian, who shot a perfect game in the Milo Junior All Stars last week, posted a superb 942 to take over the lead from overnight leader, Eric Ang while Korea's Kim Hyo-Mi posted 930 for a 1-2 lead in the ladies' division.

The youngest National squad member failed to defend his Junior All Stars title after finishing a disappointing 11th but signalled his intentions to doing better this time around with a superb first attempt. Ben Heng took second spot behind Ang with 892 while Eric Ang settled for third spot with 887.

Kim Kyung-Min continued to lead the overseas and mixed pool with 988 scored yesterday with Asian Championship Gold medalist, Choi Bok-Eum in second with 917 while the best of Team Singapore finishers was Sandra Segaran, who knocked down 908.

Asian Games Gold medalist, Kim Hyo-Mi traded places at the top of the Ladies' table after posting 930 dislodging teammate, Choi Jin A in second spot on 903. Asian Championship Gold medalist, Alice Tay of Singapore finished third with 882.

Philippines Open champion, Sarah Yap took the lead briefly in the ladies' local pool with 798 but ex-national, Rohaya Abdul Rahim of Penang immediately regained the lead with an impressive 832. Another ex-national, Vivien Khoo bowling for Ecel Pro team took third spot with 779.

The strong Team Singapore occupied all the remaining overseas and mixed pool slots with young spinner, Ong She-Na fourth in the table with 841. Rena Teng (836), Evelyn Chan (828), Jazreel Tan (800), Jennifer Tan (799) and Doreen Pang (765) finished sixth to ninth positions respectively.

The heat is on for all the competitors to qualify for the Masters as it moves into the final day tomorrow, December 17th. The Men and Ladies will contest their first block of 8 games in the Masters finals on Saturday, December 18th when the top 16 men and top 12 ladies will contest the Round-Robin finals Sunday, 19th December.

Photos courtesy of PBTPP.

14th December, Prai: Kim Kyung Min and Choi Jin A lead Korea's domination in both the Men's and Ladies' Open Masters qualifying table of the 32nd Penang Pesta International Open underway at Megalanes in Seberang Prai.

World Youth Gold medalist, Kim Kyung Min scorched the lanes with a total 4-game qualifying round with 988 with Asian Championship Good medalist, Choi Bok-Eum giving Korea a 1-2 finished taking up second spot with 917. Led by coach, James Kim, the group of Bowling Camp Korea youths arrived the island yesterday after just competed in the Milo Junior All Stars last Sunday.

Singapore keglers took all the rest of the places in the overseas pool with Sandra Segeran leading the pack in third overall with 903. Roger Tuar and Andrew Lee completed the top 5 with 865 and 846 respectively.

Milo Junior All Stars 1st runner-up, Eric Ang of Penang Megalanes topped the local pool with 887 followed by Penang's Chong Ka Bu in second with 882 while ex-national, Mustafa Yassin settled for third with 856.

Korea also dominated the Ladies' Open division when Choi Jin A and Asian Games Gold medalist, Kim Hyo Mi finished 1-2 with 903 and 815 respectively for the lead. 2002 World Ranking Masters champion, Jennifer Tan was third with 799.

Ex-national Rohaya Abdul Rahmi topped the local pool with a score of 754 ahead of SUKMA Games Gold medalist, Christyn Chew in second with 742. Malaysia's national team just arrived Penang and will very quickly fill up in these few days of qualifying.

Meanwhile, in the Boy's Open division, Singapore National youth, Benjamin Hong put up an outstanding performance to take the lead with 899 ahead of teammate, Lenny Lim in second with 872 while Milo Junior All Stars runner-up, Eric Ang of Megalanes Penang, finsihed third with 836.

Singapore National Champion, Jazreel Tan lead her teammate, Ong She-Na in the Girl's Open division with scores of 839 and 801 ahead of Junior Circuit Penang leg champion, Fatin Syazliana in third spot with 745.

Bowlers from Indonesia, Hong Kong and Philippines are expected to arrive today and tomorrow to compete in the championship which will heat up the competition as qualifying nears its end on Friday, 17th December. Masters finals will be contest on 18th and 19th December.

Photos courtesy of PBTPP.