Squad A leader bags Singapore’s first gold
20th November, Jakarta: Squad A leader, Mark Wong of Singapore bagged the Men's Singles gold medal of the 21st Asian Intercity Bowling Championship while debutant, Yoo Sung Hee claimed the Women's Singles gold for Busan at the end of Day 1. Singapore's national development squad member, Mark Wong had topped Squad A of the Men's Singles setting a benchmark of 1318 for Squad B to beat in the morning. Jakarta's William Wijaya and Hengky Susanto set a blistering pace to battle for the lead in the early stages.
As they moved into the second half of the 6-game event, it was Hengky who emerged as clear leader and had shot past Mark with 25 pins with the sixth and final game to play. It would have looked bleak for the 15-year-old Singaporean but the Indonesian could only post 198 in his crucial game ending up in third with 1295 total.
Last year's Masters gold medalist and ex-PBA bowler, Purvis Granger of Paranaque needed to strike out in his final frame to snatch the gold from Mark but again only managed a 9-pin to end the game with 234.
Granger amassed 1305, just 13 pins short of Mark's 1318 which allowed the youngster to secure the gold medal. "I wasn't around to watch what was going on in the second squad but was later told that I had won the gold," exclaimed the delighted Mark.
"Although Gina didn't win the gold, I'm still happy for both of us and proud to have won two medals on our first outing in this championship format," added Mark. "I had done all I can and in fact I managed a 700 series in the second half and I guess it just not enough," commented the American.
In the women's division, squad A leader, Gina Lim had to settle for the silver medal after she was overtaken by Yoo Sung Hee of Busan and season campaigner, Cecilia Yap of Paranaque in the second squad.
Yoo led throughout the second squad and except for the third game in which the Korean's 3-game total had fell short of Gina's by 26 pins, Yoo recovered to romp home with 234, 236 and 212 to cruise to a comfortable victory.
The champion totaled 1307 to win Busan's first gold of the championship as Cecilia claimed the silver medal with 1256. Gina's 1231 was only good enough for the bronze medal. Pasay City's Ditas Red, who was second in the first squad ended up in fourth with 1212.
Singapore's Eugene Low and Benjamin Lim tied in 34th with 1147, Chiam Yew Beng 48th with 1096 while Teo Li Ying, Bernice Lim and Geraldine Ng took 12th, 13th and 20th positions respectively in the women's division.
Detailed scores: Men's Singles Combined | Women's Singles Combined
Photos by Terence Yaw.