A clean sweep by Singapore Sports School youths
21st September, Hong Kong: Singapore Sports School youths made a clean sweep of the 33rd Hong Kong International Open Men's Graded A Masters finals when Justin Lim Chun Liang led a 1-2-3 finish with Basil Low Eng Howe and Jack Leong in second and third. Justin led all the way in the 14-game finals to bag his second consecutive international title. The 15-year-old won the Youth Under-18 Masters crown on Thursday morning in the same competition.
At the start of the grueilling 14-game finals, Singapore's Jeremy Fang took an early lead with a 225 in the opening game but the lead was soon taken over by another Singaporean, Andrew Lee after he fired a 268 in the second with Justin closing in.
But Justin set the lanes ablazed with two superb games of 244 and 256 in his next two games to take over the lead and built up a comfortable 80 pins cushion. Despite back-to-back low games of 162 and 168 in games 5 and 6, the Singapore youngster was able to remain in front.
After the slight set back, Justin was able to regain his composure and went on to cruise to a comfortable victory with 2879. His teammates, Basil Low and Jack Leong kept in close contact and was also able to over-powered Andrew and Jeremy to claim second and third with 2780 and 2756.
"I'm gald to have won my second title and I've to thank sir (Mike Lam) for giving me encouragement after my two low games," said the delighted but very humble Justin. "I also like to thank my school for giving us opportunity to come here to compete. Andrew Lee and Jeremy Fang finished fourth and fifth position to give Singapore the top 5 positions in the finals.
Singapore Sports School almost won the Women's A Masters crown but settled for second when New Hui Fen finished second to Peggy Lam Lai Ha, who amassed 1927 over the 10-game finals played at the same time.
Lam led from game 2 onwards and stretched her lead to 86 pins at the halfway mark but with New putting in her challenge in the second half, the champion was to prevail and went on to claim her first-ever title.
"I've to thank Ricky Li of Ruby Bowling Club who was giving me advice during the finals," commented the champion after her victory. A secretary with an engineering firm in Hong Kong, the 41-year-old trains with ex-international C.K. Chiang at Tsuen Wan.
New Hui Fen settled for second with 1904 while Eva Leong Mei Sheung of Hong Kong, finished third with 1758. Chatherine Yeun and Vicky Yeung Wai Chi rounded up the top 5 with 1724 and 1720 respectively.
Detailed scores: Men's Graded A Finals | Women's Graded A Finals | Photo Album.
Photos by Terence Yaw.