Smith falls to fifth place; Koivuniemi rolls back-to-back 300s to leap to ninth place
Jeon Gui-Ae (pictured), Korea, posted the highest six-game series in the Round of 48 en route to lead the top 12 players into round robin match play in the Daejeon International Bowling Tournament in Korea. Gui-Ae had 1553 including handicap to leap from fifth to first place with 5876 24-game total. 18-game leader Robert Smith, United States, fell to fifth place with 5815, while Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, made the cut in ninth place thanks to back-to-back 300 games. The top 6 after 12 games round robin advance to the TV stepladder finals.
PBA champions Koivuniemi, Smith in second and third heading into the final round before the cut to top 48
Kim Kyung-Min of Korea averaged 241 in the second round of the finals to overtake the lead in the Daejeon International Bowling Tournament Tuesday in Daejeon, Korea with 2926 total and an average of 243.83 for 12 games. With the final six games before the cut to the top 48 to go on Wednesday, PBA champions Mika Koivuniemi (l.), Finland, and Robert Smith (r.), United States, sit in second and third place with 2917 and 2905, respectively.
PBA Player of the Year averages 252.50 to take first round lead
Reigning PBA Player of the Year and World Bowling Tour men's ranking leader, Mika Koivuniemi, total 1515 pins and averaged 252.50 to overtake the lead after the first round of the finals in the Daejeon International Bowling Tournament. The field of 225 players was split into three squads to bowl three rounds of six games at Daejeon World Cup Stadium Bowling Center in Daejeon, Korea before the cut to the top 48. Kim Min-Seon currently holds the 48th and last place to advance with 1363 and an average of 227.17 including handicap. The finals continue Tuesday with Round Two.
Six 800 series and more than twenty 300 games rolled in qualifying
Park Geun-Woo of Gyeongsangbuk-Do won the qualifying in the World Bowling Tour's Daejeon International Bowling Tournament currently underway at Daejeon World Cup Stadium Bowling Center in Daejeon, South Korea. Geun-Woo had the most consistent three-games series of all competitors with 800, 799 and 794 to lead a field of 325 Korean bowlers with 2393 total and an average of 265.89. The top 125 qualifiers will join a group of one hundred seeded players in the finals.
Coaching session prior to the tournament attracts 305 players
After the great success of the inaugural national bowling tournament for primary school students in 2010, the second edition was held August 8-9, 2011 in the same venue, Inazawa Grand Bowl, Aichi, Japan, the biggest bowling center in the world with 116 lanes on one floor. This year's tournament was organized by the Japan Bowling Congress (JBC) in cooperation with other member organization of the Bowling Council of Japan (BCJ). 196 boys and girls qualified from all over Japan for the event.
Park Geun-Woo continues to lead qualifying field of 320 Korean bowlers
Professional bowler Park Kyung-Shin rolled the third 800 series of the Daejeon International Bowling Tournament Thursday at Daejeon World Cup Stadium Bowling Center in Daejeon, Korea. Kyung-Shin chalked up 812 and added 799 and 747 for 2358 nine-game total, an average of 262, to leap into second place in the overall qualifying standings. Park Geun-Woo of Gyeongsangbuk-Do continued to lead the field of 320 players - all from Korea - with 2393.
Adds 799 series to lead field of 303 with 2393 nine-game total (265.89)
Park Geun-Woo widened his lead in Daejeon International Bowling Tournament Wednesday at Daejeon World Cup Stadium Bowling Center in Daejeon, Korea, when he added a 799 three game series to his high series of 800 and 794. Geun-Woo leads the field of 303 Korean bowlers with 2393 nine-game total and an average of 265.89. Two Korean women sit in second and third place in the current standings. Qualifying for the international participants runs from Aug. 18-20.
Daejeon World Cup Stadium Bowling Center in Daejeon, Korea (Aug. 8-26, 2011)
The Daejeon International Bowling Tournament, the sixth stop of the inaugural World Bowling Tour, is underway at Daejeon World Cup Stadium Bowling Center in Daejeon, Korea. The tournament organized by the Korea Professional Bowling Association (KPBA) offers total prize money of 200 million South Korean Won or approximately 186.720 U.S. Dollar with 50 million going to the winner. After ten days of qualifying for local bowlers, Park Geun-Woo leads the field of 297 Korean bowlers with 2388 nine-game total and an average of 265.33.
For the 35th year, the Japanese Junior High School Championships and High School Championships were contested during the summer holidays in July. The JOC Cup 35th All Japan High School Championships was held from July 25-26 at Shinagawa Prince Hotel Bowling Center in Tokyo. Toshiki Kudo (l) from First High School attached to Hachinohe Institute of Technology and Mitsuki Okamoto (r.) from Fukuoka Daiichi H.S. both set new records en route to win the titles.
Wu Siu Hong, Sharon Limansantoso finish season atop the men's and women's ranking
Local favorite Ryan Lalisang and Hee Kar Yen (pictured r-l) of Malaysia captured the men's and women's title in the final event of the 2011 Asian Bowling Federation Tour Tuesday at Jaya Ancol bowling center in Jakarta, Indonesia. In the men's title match, Lalisang defeated Badin Lertpirlyasakulkit of Thailand, 230-203, while Kar Yen edged Sharon Limansantoso, Indonsia, 47-39 in roll-off after a 198-198 tie. Limansantoso and Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong finished atop the women's and men's ABF Tour rankings.
Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Games could offer another chance for Bowling to be included in the Summer Olympics
In conjunction with 100th anniversary of the Japan Sports Association and the Japanese Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly was held in Tokyo. Among the attendees was IOC president Count Dr. Jacques Rogge (r.). During the ceremony Shintaro Ishihara, Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan City (center), has announced that Tokyo will bid to host the Summer
Olympic Games in the year 2020, which could offer another chance for bowling to get into the Olympics.
Jaya Ancol Bowling Center in Jakarta, Indonesia (July 19-25, 2011)
Yannaphon Larp-apharat (r.) of Thailand and Singapore's New Hui Fen (l.) both rolled a 192 game en route to win the men's and women's open masters titles in the 9th Indonesia Open Monday at Jaya Ancol Bowling Center in Jakarta, Indonesia. Yannaphon earned 150 million Indonsian Rupees for his second victory in three weeks while Hui Fen pocketed 50 million Rupees for her first career international title. The top 16 Asian men and women advanced to Tuesday's final leg of the 2011 Asian Bowling Federation Tour.
Claims BIGBOX Women's Higashi-Yamato Cup for her tenth career JPBA title
Wendy Macpherson (l.) of Henderson, Nevada, has reached another milestone in her illustrious career when she defeated Yuko Nakatani (r.), 203-191, in the title match of the BIGBOX Women's Higashi-Yamato Cup. Macpherson, who has won 20 titles on the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour before the PWBA ceased operations in the fall of 2003, captured her second consecutive title on the JPBA Tour and the tenth JPBA title of her career worth 1.200.000 Yen.
Annop Arromsaranon (r.) of Thailand and Indonesia's Tannya Roumimper (l.) won the men's and women's title in the ABF Tour Hong Kong, the sixth and penultimate event on the 2011 Asian Bowling Federation Tour. Annop rolled games of 234 and 257 on his way to the men's title match, where he defeated Hong Kong's No. 1, Wu Siu Hong, 249-213. The women's title match was an all-Indonesian affair with Roumimper beating fellow Indonesian national team member Sharon Limansantoso, 224-210.
Top seeded Robert Smith (r.), United States, and Shayna Ng (l.) of Singapore made quick work of their opponents to win the men's and women's Open Masters titles in the 37th Hong Kong International Open Sunday at Hong Kong Bowling City in Hong Kong, China. Smith, a seven-time PBA champion and the 200 U.S. Open winner, who lives in Hong Kong, topped No. 3 Shaker Al-Hassan, 216-208, to wrap up the men's title. Ng flew past No. 5 Zoe Tam, Hong Kong, to claim the women's title.
Wendy Macpherson (l.) defeated 2011 Japan Professional Bowlers Association Ladies Tour Player of the Year frontrunner Hiromi Matsunaga (r.) in the title match of the JFE Cup Women's Chiba Open, 217-199, to successfully defend her 2010 title. The 43-year former PWBA star, who used a Columbia 300 Outburst, pocketed 1.2 million Yen or approximately 14,890 Dollar. I was Macpherson's first JPBA title in 2011 and the ninth of her career.
COTAI International Bowling Center, Macau, China (July 3, 2011)
Michael Mak (l.), Hong Kong, and Macau's Julia Lam (r.) emerged as the mane's and women's champions at the Asian Bowling Federation Tour Macau leg July 3rd at COTAI International Bowling Center in Macau, China, to claim their first career titles on the ABF Tour. In an all Hong Kong affair, Mak pulled off a 225-198 win over fellow Hong Kong national team bowler Eric Tseng to claim the men's title, while Lam easily defeated compatriot Chan Weng Sam, 212-171, to land the second consecutive victory for a Macau woman.
Extends Guinness World Record to 123 career titles
Paeng Nepomuceno of the Philippines defeated former 2006 World Masters Champion Biboy Rivera, 195-184, to capture the masters title of the 40th Philippine International Open Championships June 25 at Midtown Bowl in Manila, Philippines. The USBC silver level coach, a living legend in his country, won the Philippine Masters for a record eighth time in his illustrious career and extended his own Guinness Book World Record to 123 international titles. Nepomuceno received 250,000 Philippine Pesos (approx. US$5,800).
Orchid Bowl at Orchid Country Club in Singapore (May30 June 4, 2011)
Kelly Kulick (l.) of the United States and UAE's Shaker Al-Hassan (r.) walked away the winners in the women's and men's Open Masters division of the 44th Singapore International Open at Orchid Bowl in Singapore. PBA exempt player Kulick topped BWAA Collegiate Bowler of the Year, Jazreel Tan, Singapore, in the decider, 226-210, to win the women's title worth 6,000 Singapore Dollar. Al-Hassan defeated tournament leader Khalid Al-Dubyyan, Kuwait, twice to earn the S$20,000 top prize.
College students win Japan's most prestigious individual titles from top seed
College students Takuma Echigo (l.) and Hikaru Takekawa (r.) captured the men's and women's titles in the NHK Cup 45th Japan All-Star Invitational Championships which were held from May 13-15, 2011 JFE Chiba River Lanes in Chiba-Shi, Chiba-Ken, Japan. The event is the most prestigious individual championships in Japan. This year's championships were held as a charity event for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami victims and drew 245 players.
Jeon Gui-Ae (pictured), Korea, posted the highest six-game series in the Round of 48 en route to lead the top 12 players into round robin match play in the Daejeon International Bowling Tournament in Korea. Gui-Ae had 1553 including handicap to leap from fifth to first place with 5876 24-game total. 18-game leader Robert Smith, United States, fell to fifth place with 5815, while Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, made the cut in ninth place thanks to back-to-back 300 games. The top 6 after 12 games round robin advance to the TV stepladder finals. 
Kim Kyung-Min of Korea averaged 241 in the second round of the finals to overtake the lead in the Daejeon International Bowling Tournament Tuesday in Daejeon, Korea with 2926 total and an average of 243.83 for 12 games. With the final six games before the cut to the top 48 to go on Wednesday, PBA champions Mika Koivuniemi (l.), Finland, and Robert Smith (r.), United States, sit in second and third place with 2917 and 2905, respectively.
Reigning PBA Player of the Year and World Bowling Tour men's ranking leader, Mika Koivuniemi, total 1515 pins and averaged 252.50 to overtake the lead after the first round of the finals in the Daejeon International Bowling Tournament. The field of 225 players was split into three squads to bowl three rounds of six games at Daejeon World Cup Stadium Bowling Center in Daejeon, Korea before the cut to the top 48. Kim Min-Seon currently holds the 48th and last place to advance with 1363 and an average of 227.17 including handicap. The finals continue Tuesday with Round Two.
Park Geun-Woo of Gyeongsangbuk-Do won the qualifying in the World Bowling Tour's Daejeon International Bowling Tournament currently underway at Daejeon World Cup Stadium Bowling Center in Daejeon, South Korea. Geun-Woo had the most consistent three-games series of all competitors with 800, 799 and 794 to lead a field of 325 Korean bowlers with 2393 total and an average of 265.89. The top 125 qualifiers will join a group of one hundred seeded players in the finals.
After the great success of the inaugural national bowling tournament for primary school students in 2010, the second edition was held August 8-9, 2011 in the same venue, Inazawa Grand Bowl, Aichi, Japan, the biggest bowling center in the world with 116 lanes on one floor. This year's tournament was organized by the Japan Bowling Congress (JBC) in cooperation with other member organization of the Bowling Council of Japan (BCJ). 196 boys and girls qualified from all over Japan for the event.
Professional bowler Park Kyung-Shin rolled the third 800 series of the Daejeon International Bowling Tournament Thursday at Daejeon World Cup Stadium Bowling Center in Daejeon, Korea. Kyung-Shin chalked up 812 and added 799 and 747 for 2358 nine-game total, an average of 262, to leap into second place in the overall qualifying standings. Park Geun-Woo of Gyeongsangbuk-Do continued to lead the field of 320 players - all from Korea - with 2393.
For the 35th year, the Japanese Junior High School Championships and High School Championships were contested during the summer holidays in July. The JOC Cup 35th All Japan High School Championships was held from July 25-26 at Shinagawa Prince Hotel Bowling Center in Tokyo. Toshiki Kudo (l) from First High School attached to Hachinohe Institute of Technology and Mitsuki Okamoto (r.) from Fukuoka Daiichi H.S. both set new records en route to win the titles.
Local favorite Ryan Lalisang and Hee Kar Yen (pictured r-l) of Malaysia captured the men's and women's title in the final event of the 2011 Asian Bowling Federation Tour Tuesday at Jaya Ancol bowling center in Jakarta, Indonesia. In the men's title match, Lalisang defeated Badin Lertpirlyasakulkit of Thailand, 230-203, while Kar Yen edged Sharon Limansantoso, Indonsia, 47-39 in roll-off after a 198-198 tie. Limansantoso and Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong finished atop the women's and men's ABF Tour rankings. 
In conjunction with 100th anniversary of the Japan Sports Association and the Japanese Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly was held in Tokyo. Among the attendees was IOC president Count Dr. Jacques Rogge (r.). During the ceremony Shintaro Ishihara, Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan City (center), has announced that Tokyo will bid to host the Summer
Olympic Games in the year 2020, which could offer another chance for bowling to get into the Olympics. 
Yannaphon Larp-apharat (r.) of Thailand and Singapore's New Hui Fen (l.) both rolled a 192 game en route to win the men's and women's open masters titles in the 9th Indonesia Open Monday at Jaya Ancol Bowling Center in Jakarta, Indonesia. Yannaphon earned 150 million Indonsian Rupees for his second victory in three weeks while Hui Fen pocketed 50 million Rupees for her first career international title. The top 16 Asian men and women advanced to Tuesday's final leg of the 2011 Asian Bowling Federation Tour. 
Wendy Macpherson (l.) of Henderson, Nevada, has reached another milestone in her illustrious career when she defeated Yuko Nakatani (r.), 203-191, in the title match of the BIGBOX Women's Higashi-Yamato Cup. Macpherson, who has won 20 titles on the Professional Women's Bowling Association Tour before the PWBA ceased operations in the fall of 2003, captured her second consecutive title on the JPBA Tour and the tenth JPBA title of her career worth 1.200.000 Yen. 
Annop Arromsaranon (r.) of Thailand and Indonesia's Tannya Roumimper (l.) won the men's and women's title in the ABF Tour Hong Kong, the sixth and penultimate event on the 2011 Asian Bowling Federation Tour. Annop rolled games of 234 and 257 on his way to the men's title match, where he defeated Hong Kong's No. 1, Wu Siu Hong, 249-213. The women's title match was an all-Indonesian affair with Roumimper beating fellow Indonesian national team member Sharon Limansantoso, 224-210. 
Top seeded Robert Smith (r.), United States, and Shayna Ng (l.) of Singapore made quick work of their opponents to win the men's and women's Open Masters titles in the 37th Hong Kong International Open Sunday at Hong Kong Bowling City in Hong Kong, China. Smith, a seven-time PBA champion and the 200 U.S. Open winner, who lives in Hong Kong, topped No. 3 Shaker Al-Hassan, 216-208, to wrap up the men's title. Ng flew past No. 5 Zoe Tam, Hong Kong, to claim the women's title.
Wendy Macpherson (l.) defeated 2011 Japan Professional Bowlers Association Ladies Tour Player of the Year frontrunner Hiromi Matsunaga (r.) in the title match of the JFE Cup Women's Chiba Open, 217-199, to successfully defend her 2010 title. The 43-year former PWBA star, who used a Columbia 300 Outburst, pocketed 1.2 million Yen or approximately 14,890 Dollar. I was Macpherson's first JPBA title in 2011 and the ninth of her career.
Michael Mak (l.), Hong Kong, and Macau's Julia Lam (r.) emerged as the mane's and women's champions at the Asian Bowling Federation Tour Macau leg July 3rd at COTAI International Bowling Center in Macau, China, to claim their first career titles on the ABF Tour. In an all Hong Kong affair, Mak pulled off a 225-198 win over fellow Hong Kong national team bowler Eric Tseng to claim the men's title, while Lam easily defeated compatriot Chan Weng Sam, 212-171, to land the second consecutive victory for a Macau woman.
Paeng Nepomuceno of the Philippines defeated former 2006 World Masters Champion Biboy Rivera, 195-184, to capture the masters title of the 40th Philippine International Open Championships June 25 at Midtown Bowl in Manila, Philippines. The USBC silver level coach, a living legend in his country, won the Philippine Masters for a record eighth time in his illustrious career and extended his own Guinness Book World Record to 123 international titles. Nepomuceno received 250,000 Philippine Pesos (approx. US$5,800).
Kelly Kulick (l.) of the United States and UAE's Shaker Al-Hassan (r.) walked away the winners in the women's and men's Open Masters division of the 44th Singapore International Open at Orchid Bowl in Singapore. PBA exempt player Kulick topped BWAA Collegiate Bowler of the Year, Jazreel Tan, Singapore, in the decider, 226-210, to win the women's title worth 6,000 Singapore Dollar. Al-Hassan defeated tournament leader Khalid Al-Dubyyan, Kuwait, twice to earn the S$20,000 top prize. 
College students Takuma Echigo (l.) and Hikaru Takekawa (r.) captured the men's and women's titles in the NHK Cup 45th Japan All-Star Invitational Championships which were held from May 13-15, 2011 JFE Chiba River Lanes in Chiba-Shi, Chiba-Ken, Japan. The event is the most prestigious individual championships in Japan. This year's championships were held as a charity event for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami victims and drew 245 players. 