Singaporean makes stepladder finals
16th April, Bangkok: 2011 Saudi Open champion, Remy Ong set his sight for another title after making the cut for the Men's Open Masters stepladder finals of the 37th MWA Thailand International Open on Saturday. Remy Ong, who had earlier finished sixth in the Stage 1 finals, rolled 227, 173, 221, 200, 201 and 211 for a total of 1233 to make the cut for the stepladder finals in fifth spot. Te Singaporean could have taken third spot had he spared his last frame of the final game.
Koreans dominated the stage by taking the top 3 spots with 19-year-old national rookie, Lee Ik-Kyu finishing in the lead with 1290. Koo Seong-Hoi of the Korean National Sports University took second spot with 1287.
2009 AMF World Cup champion, Choi Yong-Kyu completed Korea's domination with a third place finish with 1246 edging American PBA pro, Tim Mack into fourth on 1239.
Kritchawat and Ong tied fifth with 1233 while the final stepladder spot went to the fourth Korean, Hong Hae-Sol with 1226. Kim Byung-Sek, who was fourth before the final game managed only 193 to slip down to eighth and missing the cut by 2 pins.
The Ladies' Open division was also dominated by Korea as Lee Na-Young and Kim Ji-Hye of Dae Jeon City finished one-two with 1223 and 1204 respectively.
Early pace-setter, Benchawan Poungthong of Thailand did well to finish third with 1197 ahead of a third Korean, Yoo Yeon Jung from Ulsan in fourth with 1188. Asian Schools Masters gold medalist, Yanee Saebae of Thailand snatched the final stepladder spot with 1168.
In the earlier Stage 1 finals, New Hui Fen and Daphne Tan failed to advance after the duo ended the 6-game finals in ninth and 12th positions with 1082 and 1055 respectively.
Hong Kong's Chan Shuk Han topped the stage with 1223 followed by China's Zhang Yuhong and Indonesia's Putty Armein second and third with 1201 and 1188.
Koo Seong-Hoi led the Men's Open Stage 1 finals with 1280 ahead of American, Robert Smith in second and Korea's Cho Young-Seon third with 1272 and 1243 totals. Ong totaled 1188 to finish sixth.
Ong will face Kritchawat and Hong Hae-Sol in the first stepladder match. The winner will face No. 3 seed, Choi Yong-Kyu and No. 4 seed, Tim Mack. The winner of the second match will meet No. 2 seed, Koo Seong-Hoi in the third match.
The winner of the third match will earn a crack at the title facing top seed, Lee Ik-Kyu for the top prize of 300,000 Baht (approx. S$12,450).
Detailed scores: Men's Stage 2 | Ladies' Stage 2 | Men's Stage 1 | Ladies' Stage 1 | Photo Album.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Bangkok.