Double victory for Sports School youths

16th July, Hong Kong: Marcus Leong and Kimberly Ooi gave Singapore Sports School a double celebration after claiming their maiden victories in the Men's and Women's Grade B Masters finals of the 37th Hong Kong International Open on Saturday.  Marcus Leong set a crakcing pace with 247, 209 and 174 in his first three opening games to open up a gap of 39 pins over team-mate, Mervyn Seah after the first series. Another Sports School youth, Alex Chong took a brief lead but Leong soon regained it in the next series and stretching the lead to 52 pins.

The champion ended the 12-game finals with 2495 to cruise to a comfortable 89 pins victory over the fast finishing Andrew Lee of Singapore, who took second spot with 2406.

Megalanes' Chan Kam Fook sealed third spot with 2383 ahead of Alex Chong in fourth position with 2360. Mervyn rounded up the top 5 with 2311 pinfalls.

"I had two relatively low games and that was because I wasn't quick enough to make adjustments to the changing conditions," said the 16-year-old Leong after his triumph. "But I'm happy to have taken my first international title."Singapore Sports School celebrated another fine win when front-runner, Charmaine Lim and Kimberly Ooi had assured themselves a one-two finish before the end of the 8-game finals.

But Kimberly shot a big game of 223 to edge team-mate, Charmaine by 23 pins to win her first-ever title with 1463. Charmaine, who won the Under-14 Masters title of the 5th Opulent-Singapore Sports School International, settled for second with 1440 after managing 186 in her final game.

Hong Kong's Jenny Wong finished a creditable third position with 1371. A third Sports School youth, Meliana Sibuea ended in eighth with 1280.

SingaporeBowling has all its eight women competing in the championship qualified for the Women's Open Masters finals begining later today. Jazreel Tan, Cherie Tan and Geraldine Ng will skip Round 1 and directly into Round 2 finals tomorrow.

Detailed scores: Men's Grade B Finals | Women's Grade B Finals | Photo Album.Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.