Two Singaporeans on the winners’ podium
28th February, Doha: Reigning national champion, New Hui Fen and SBF Bowler of the Year, Shayna Ng ended their first 2014 international assignment in fine fashion to finish as first and third runner-up in the PBA-WBT #7 H.H. Emir Cup on Friday.
It would have been a perfect start to the year had Hui Fen been able to beat the two-time PBA Bowler of the Year and second-seed, Chris Barnes of USA in the title match but went down 483-493 to settle for the first runner-up spot.
Hui Fen had snatched the fourth and final stepladder final spot in her last two games of the earlier Step 2 finals. The 22-year-old sailed past top seed and PBA pro, Bill O’Neill of USA, 489-397 in the first match of the Step 3 finals to set up the encounter with Barnes.
Ng, who was seeded third, was beaten by Barnes in the other Step 3 final match, 445-521 to settle for third runner-up.
In the title match, Both Barnes and Hui Fen started the first match of the championship tie matching strikes for strikes up to the sixth frame and after both spared their seventh frame, there were little separating the duo.
The American doubled in the eighth and ninth but the Singaporean went one better by striking thrice and a spare for 275 which included an 8 pin handicap against Branes’ 257.
In the second match, again both matched stride for stride with strikes up to the fourth frame when Hui Fen stumbled into a big 6-pin split. Barnes struck twice in the fifth and sixth frames while his challenger had another 6-pin washout but managed to spare it.
By the eighth frame, Barnes had only reduced his 18 pins deficit from the first match by 2 pins and was still trailing by 14. Barnes struck out to end the game with 236 for a total of 493.
All Hui Fen needed was to mark her tenth frame to win but encountered a huge 7-10 split resulting in her ending the game with 200 and with the 8 pin handicap plus the 275 from the first game, her two game total was only 483.
Barnes pocketed the top prize of US$25,000 for his victory leaving Hui Fen with US$12,000 as first runner-up. O’Neill finished as second runner-up and Ng third runner-up but were awarded the same prize of US$6,000 each.
Two other Singapore women, Jazreel Tan and Bernice Lim ended their hopes of making the stepladder finals in seventh and ninth positions respectively. Tan earned US$2,700 while Lim took home US$2,300.
The women will return to Singapore while coach, Helmi Chew will move on to the PBA-WBT #8 Bahrain Open joined by national head coach, Remy Ong, who will bring along four other Singapore men.
Detailed scores: Step 3 & 4 Finals | Step 2 Finals | Photo Album.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Doha, Qatar.