Hong Kong women in Top 6
21st June, Macau: 2012 ABF Tour TOC winner, Chan Shuk Han completed her Women's Open Round 1 Masters finals of the 2014 Macau-China International in the top 6 in fourth position as 2013 ABF Tour TOC winner, Sharon Limansantoso of Indonesia won the round.

Chien Hsiu-Lan of Chinese Taipei got off the block with a splendid 268 in her opening game to lead Filomena Choi of Macau in second and Ha Yu Rim of Korea National Sport University in third. The Taiwanese spinner had her 22 pins lead reduced to just 3 as Limansantoso closed the gap after the second game.

The Indonesian overtook Chien after the third game albeit only 5 pins ahead of the Taiwanese. Limansantoso continued her good pace to stretch her lead to 29 after the fourth game, 65 pins after the fifth and eventually ended the round with 78 pins cushion on a total of 1347.

The leader will be hoping to end a bad run of finshing second on two occasions, second in last week's Hong Kong Open and second again in the ABF Tour Hong Kong leg.

Angkana Netrviseth of Thailand stormed home in her last two games with 248 and 213 to snatch second spot with 1269 as Chien settled for third position with 1262.

Chan Shuk Han of Hong Kong, who was third before the last game slipped down to fourth with 1260 followed by Zhang Yu Hong of China in fifth with 1255 while Wang Ya-Ting of Chinese Taipei completed the top 6 with 1240.

Two other Hong Kong finalists, Zoe Tam and Milki Ng managed only 15th and 27th positions with 1171 and 1054 respectively.

The women will resume with their second round of 6 games with pins carried forward tomorrow morning. The men will start their second round in the afternoon. The top 6 women and top 6 men will advance to the stepladder shootout finals to determine this year's champions.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

Mak in the hunt for first open title
21st June, Macau: 2013 AIMG two gold medalist, Michael Mak of Hong Kong put himself in a good position to win his first international open title after finishing third in the Men's Open Round 1 finals of the 2014 Macau-China International Open on Saturday.

Japanese debutant, Tomoyuki Sasaki set the early pace to lead the field for the first two games with 2013 ABF Tour TOC winner, Surasak Manuwong of Thailand in the close second. Mak stayed close to the leading duo after rolling 211 and 258.

But the more consistent 2014 ABF Tour Egypt leg champion, HRH Mohammed Al Saud of Saudi Arabia shot into the lead after firing 203, 244 and 235 to lead Sasaki by just 3 pins midpoint in the 6-game round.

The Saudi continued to lead the next two games before ending poorly with 181 to settle for second with 1350. Sasaki posted a stunning 279 in his final game to win the round with 1373.

Mak, who ad slipped out of the top 5 after a lowly 168 in the fifth, bounced back brilliantly with 226 to snatch third spot with 1315.

Surasak settled for fourth position with 1301 followed the surprise Senior Masters second runner-up, Vong Vang Ip of Macau fifth with 1284. A second Japanes, Shogo Wada rounded out the top 6 with 1255.

2013 ABF Tour TOC first runner-up, Wicky Yeung, who had only made the cut for today's round, did well to finishin the top 10 while his team-mate, Wu Siu Hong took 11th position.

Other Hong Kong national bowlers, Achilles Hung (17th), Lau Kwun Ho (20th), top qualifier Rickle Kam (21st) and lefty, Mike Chan (22nd) formed the bottom half of the field.

The women will take to the lanes in the afternoon for their first round of 6 games.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

Promising performance by Hong Kong nationals
20th June, Macau: Hong Kong national keglers competing at the 2014 Macau-China International Open put in a promising performance with Rickle Kam leading the challenge with five men team-mates making the cut for the Masters finals.

2012 ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Kam stood out brilliantly by leading the Men's Open qualifying leaderboard with 759 and 738 for a 6-game aggregate of 1497.

Kam had failed to qualify for last week's Hong Kong Open and a turn-around of form here in Macau put him in as a strong title contender and will also give himself a boost in confidence for this year's all-important Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.

China's Yang Wei, who finished tenth in last week's Men's Open Stage 2 Masters finals, rolled a superb 767 to leadfrog into second position with 1462.

2014 ABF Tour Hong Kong semi-finalist, Tomoyuki Sasaki of Japan took third spot with 1447 while overnight leader and 2013 ABF Tour TOC winner, Surasak Manuwong of Thailand slipped down to fourth on 1446.

2013 Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games two gold medalist, Michael Mak rounded out the top 5 with a total of 1444. Joining Mak is 2013 East Asian Games Masters gold medalist, Wu Siu Hong in 11th position with 1410.

ALso making the finals were Lau Kwun Ho second in the mixed pool with 1393, Mike Chan in 12th with 1363 and Achilles Hung 13th with 1362.

Newly-crowned ABF Tour Hong Kong leg champion, Eric Tseng had yet to qualify but has a good high set of 679 and need another set of 670 or more to ensure a place in the finals. Joshua Chow is not far either bu his best 3-game series of 660 made his job harder needing another set of 720 or more.

vernight leader, Wendy Chai of Malaysia remained firmly in pole position in the women's division with 1311. Lee Hye Jin of Korea National Sport University moved up to take second position with 1303.

Last week's ABF Tour Hong Kong leg champion, Putty Armein of Indonesia finished fourth with 1286 while defending champion, Hong Hae Ni completed the top 5 with 1264.

Milki Ng, who is second in the reserves table has a good 3-game series of 644 and need only another 600 series to ensure her place in the finals. Joan Cheng is tenth with 1117 from 571 and 546. She needs at least 640 or more to book her place in the finals.

30 women and 40 men will contest the 6-game Block 1 Masters finals on June 21. All will proceed into Block 2 for another 6 games on June 22. The top 6 women and top 6 men will then advance to the stepladder shootout finals.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong national takes over lead
19th June, Macau: 2012 ABF Tour Macau leg champion, Rickle Kam of Hong Kong took over the lead of the Men's Open Masters qualifying table of the 2014 Macau-China International Open on Thursday.

The 28-year-old national bowler almost reached the 1500-mark to take over top spot. Kam posted two splendid 3-game series of 759 and 738 for a 6-game aggregate of 1497.

Kam had failed to qualify for last week's Hong Kong Open and a turn-around of form here in Macau put him in a strong title contender and also give himself a boost for this year's all-important Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.

China's Yang Wei, who finished tenth in last week's Men's Open Stage 2 Masters finals, rolled a superb 767 to leadfrog into second position with 1462.

2014 ABF Tour Hong Kong semi-finalist, Tomoyuki Sasaki of Japan took third spot with 1447 while overnight leader and 2013 ABF Tour TOC winner, Surasak Manuwong of Thailand slipped down to fourth on 1446.

2013 Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games two gold medalist, Michael Mak of Hong KOng rounded out the top 5 with 1444. Up to yesterday, there were only five who had totaled past the 1400-mark.

The table now has 10 qualifiers who have reached that milestone. Lau Kwun Ho of Hong Kong was the only overseas qualifier in 11th position who has not pass that mark with 1393.

The current cut in 18th and 19th positions of the mixed pool is tied by 2014 ABF Tour Thailand champion, Shail Abdul Hameed of India and recently-crowned 2014 ABF Tour Hong Kong elg champion, Eric Tseng of Hong Kong with 1324.

Overnight leader, Wendy Chai of Malaysia remained firmly in pole position in the women's division with 1311. Lee Hye Jin of Korea National Sport University moved up to take second position with 1303.

Last week's ABF Tour Hong Kong leg champion, Putty Armein of Indonesia finished fourth with 1286 while defending champion, Hong Hae Ni completed the top 5 with 1264.

Leading Macau's challenge for the women's title will lie on Julia Lam, who crrently topped the National Team seeded pool with 1201. The highest ranked Hong Kong women qualifier is Chan Shuk Han third in the mixed pool with 1232.

The cut in 14th position in the mixed pool is held by Kang Yoo Ra of Korea National Sport University with 1174. 30 women and 40 men will contest the 6-game Block 1 Masters finals on June 21.

All will proceed into Block 2 for another 6 games on June 22. The top 6 women and top 6 men will then advance to the stepladder shootout finals. The Youth and Senior Masters will be contested tomorrow as qualifying continued for the rest of the division till late on June 20.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Hong Kong.