2nd December, Kuantan: National backup squad member, Norhanizah Abu Bakar of Kuala Lumpur took her mainden international title when she captured the Ladies' Masters crown of the 5th Pahang International Open on Sunday.

A member of the national backup squad for the past two years, Norhanizah Abu Bakar took the lead after the second game of the 10-game finals to capture the Ladies' Masters crown with a comfortable margin of 52 pins on a total of 2166.

Since winning the 2005 Junior Circuit GP Finals, the 17-year-old had failed to make an impact after being roped into the national team. But on Sunday, she finally nailed her first international title with an outstanding performance.

Pahang's Jerusha Chan, who was trailing the leader most of the way, settled for second with 2114 thanks to a 10-pin handicap bowling against bowlers in the open division. National youth, Tengku Emanina Laily of Kedah claimed third spot with a total of 2069.

Other national backup and national youths in the field of 16 finalists were Sin Li Jane (5th-2045), Christyn Chew (7th-2010), Syakirah Yeoh (10th-1981), Jacqueline Sijore (12th-1937) and Nazrinnah Md Kamil (1794).

Meanwhile, Johor's Kang Bo Long upstaged a much stronger field of national backup men and national youths to bag the Men's title with a total of 3433 over the 15-game finals. Pyramid Mega Lanes' Sheqal Jahuri led in the first 3-game series but Kang soon took over in the second series.

With only 9 pins behind, this year's Ampang Superbowl International Challenge champion, Ahmad Hairoman took over after the third series with Kang in a close second. Kang then fired 222, 214 and 237 to regain the lead and 87 pins clear of Hairoman after the fourth series.

The Johorean then cruised to a convincing victory, 102 pins ahead his nearest rival on a total of 3433 and receiving an 8-pin handicap throughout the finals. Hairoman settled for second with 3331 with pace-setter, Sheqal Jahuri finishing third with 3179.

Kuala Lumpur's Yusuf Abdul Raof, who missed the Boy's Under-16 finals by finishing third yesterday, was awarded with the victory in the Boy's Open division after he amassed a total of 2124 in the 10-game finals.

Pahang's Johnathan Chan claimed second spot with 2080, 44 pins adrift the champion while Faliq Aimran of Kuala Lumpur, who led most of the way, faded out in the last two games to settle for third with 2079.

Photos by Terence Yaw.

1st December, Kuantan: Local youth, Mohd Haidal of Pahang stormed home in the final 3-game series to snatch the Boy's Under-16 Youth Masters title of the 5th Pahang International Open while Pyramid Youth's Hee Kar Yen triumphed in the girl's division.

GP Finals Boy's Under-16 runner-up, Teh Lit Qing of Perak, set a cracking pace in the first 2 games of the 10-game Youth Boy's Under-16 Masters finals with 223 and 221 to opened up a 38 pin lead over Shin Chern Yew.

The 16-year-old, who was ranked second in the GP Finals rankings this year but could only finish third in the grand finals, looked set to cruise to a comfortable victory as he continued his relentless pace right to the seventh game when he seem to have run out of steam.

A poor 158 and 173 in the eighth and ninth games saw his margin drastically reduced to 9 pins going into the tenth anf final game. Shin was trailing the leader but dropped out of contention as Yusuf Abdul Raof og Kuala Lumpur closed in onto the leading pack.

PBAP International Classic youth champion, Chan Wei Siang of Johor staked in his claim on the title as he stormed into second to trail with Pahang's Mohd Haidal a close fourth and Mohd Fadli of DY Bowl PD third.

A 255 in the final game by Mohd Haiqal saw the Pahang youth clinching the title on a total of 1956 with Chan settling for second with 1925. Yusuf Abdul Raof took third spot with 1922 ahead of pace-setter, Teh Lit Qing fourth with 1904.

GP Finals Girl's U-16 champion, Hee Kar Yen of Pyramid Youth, clinched the girl's crown of the 10 game finals with 1995 with a 12 pin handicap per game competiting against the Girl's Open category.

Sukan Teras Pahang's Farah Izzazaya set the early pace to lead the field of 18 finalists but lost the lead to Hee Kar Yen after the fifth game. Despite regaining the lead after the sixth game, Hee took back the lead thereafter and went on to win by a narrow margin of 7 pins.

Kuala Lumpur's Nur Diana took second spot with 1988 followed by Selangor's Ili Syazana in third with 1968. Early leader, Farah Izzazaya and teammate, Nazira Nasir tounded up the top 5 with 1945 and 1938 respectively.

The Boy's U-18 Masters finals will be contested later this afternoon as qualifying will end late Saturday evening. The Ladies' and Men's division Masters finals will be held on Sunday, 2nd November.

Photos by Ray Tan, PTBP.