Korea sweeps Masters titles at 41st Hong Kong International Open

    08/31/15

    Hong Kong

    2015HKGOpenSonYoungSeokLimSiHyunBanner.jpg

     

    2015HKGOpenSonYoungSeok2.jpg2015HKGOpenKimDongGyoo.jpgKorea swept the men's and women's Masters titles at the 41st Hong Kong International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships Sunday at South China Athletic Association Bowling Center in Hong Kong, China.

    In the men's stepladder final, top-seeded Son Young Seok (pictured left) defeated his fellow countryman and No. 2 seed, Kim Dong Gyoo (right) in a low-scoring encounter, 170-167 to win the title and the 55,000 Hong Kong Dollar top prize or approximately 7,100 U.S. Dollar.

    Son, who averaged 252.88 in the second round, to lead the top six players into the stepladder finals, had to sit and wait for his opponent.

    2015HKGOpenMenFinalists.jpgIn the opening shoot-out match, fifth-seeded Tony Wong of Hong Kong sidelined Thailand's Surasak Manuwong and Lee Tak Man of Macau, 214-201-181.

    Kim fired the highest game of the finale to defeat Wong and third-seeded Michael Mak of Hong Kong, 258-214-210, and to earn his spot in the finals. From front right, clockwise: Mak, Son, Kim, Lee, Wong and Manuwong.

    Kim was consoled with HK$22,000, while Mak earned HK$14,000 for third place. Wong, Lee and Surasak finished in fourth through sixth place worth HK$7,000, HK$5,000 and HK$4,000, respectively.

    2015HKGOpenLimSoHyun2.jpg2015HKGOpenVictoriaChin.jpgThe women's title match went the distance as second-seeded Lim So Hyun (left) defeated defending champion and No. 1 seed, Victoria Chin (right) of Malaysia, twice (213-177 and 226-167) to wrap up the title and to earn the HK$26,000 top prize (approx. USD3,355).

    Chin, who toppled 1815 pins in Round 2, an average of 226.88 for eight games, to earn the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive year, watched the opening match in which her compatriot Lee Na Young posted a 224 game to take care of Malaysia's Natasha Roslan (188) and Veronica De Souza (181) of Macau.

    2015HKGOpenWomenFinalists.jpgSecond-seeded Lim then eliminated Lee and No. 3 seed, Esther Cheah of Malaysia, 224-188-181. From front right, clockwise: Cheah, Chin, Lim, Lee, De Souza and Roslan.

    Chin pocketed HK$26,000 for second place, Cheah got HK$7,000 for third place and Lee, De Souza and Roslan received HK$3,500, HK$2,500 and HK$1,800 for fourth, fifth and sixth place.

    The top 16 Asian men and top 8 Asian women (places 9-16 earn ranking points) qualified for the seventh leg of the 2015 Asian Bowling Federation Tour to be held August 31 once again at SCAA Bowling Center in Hong Kong, China.

    Photos courtesy of Asian Bowling Federation

    41st Hong Kong International Open - Men's Stepladder Finals


    2015HKGOpenMenTop3.jpgChampionship Round:
    1. Son Young Seok, Korea, 170 (1 game), HK$55,000
    2. Kim Dong Gyoo, Korea, 425 (2 games), HK$22,000
    3. Michael Mak, Hong Kong, 210 (1 game), HK$14,000
    4. Tony Wong, Hong Kong, 428 (2 games), HK$7,000
    5. Lee Tak Man, Macau, 181 (1 game), HK$5,000
    6. Surasak Manuwong, Thailand, 201 (1 game), HK$4,000

    Playoff Results:
    First Match: No. 5 Wong (214) def. No. 4 Lee (181) and No. 6 Manuwong (201)
    Second Match: No. 2 Kim (258) def. No. 3 Mak (210) and Wong (214)
    Championship: No. 1 Son def. Kim, 170-167.

     


    41st Hong Kong International Open - Women's Stepladder Finals


    2015HKGOpenWomenTop3.jpgChampionship Round:
    1. Lim So Hyun, Korea, 649 (3 games), HK$26,000
    2. Victoria Chin, Malaysia, 344 (2 games), HK$14,000
    3. Esther Cheah, Malaysia, 185 (1 game), HK$7,000
    4. Lee Na Young, Korea, 412 (2 games), HK$3,500
    5. Veronica De Souza, Macau, 181 (1 game), HK$2,500
    6. Natasha Roslan, Malaysia, 206 (1 game), HK$1,800

    Playoff Results:
    First Match: No. 4 Lee (224) def. No. 5 De Souza (181) and No. 6 Roslan (188)
    Second Match: No. 2 Lim (210) def. No. 3 Cheah (185) and Lee (188)
    Championship: Lim def. No. 1 Chin, 213-177
    and in the deciding game Lim def. Chin, 226-167.
    Note: The No. 1 seed must be defeated twice to win the title.

     


    41st Hong Kong International Open - Men's Division after Round 2


    Top 6 advance to the stepladder finals.

     


    41st Hong Kong International Open - Women's Division after Round 2


    Top 6 advance to the stepladder finals.

     


    41st Hong Kong International Open - Men's Division after Round 1


    Top 18 meet the top six qualifiers in Round 2.

     


    41st Hong Kong International Open - Women's Division after Round 1


    Top 15 meet the top six qualifiers in Round 2.

     


    41st Hong Kong International Open - Men's Division after Qualifying


    Total 39 players advance to the finals; top 3 of the Local and Overseas Pool receive one bye.

     


    41st Hong Kong International Open - Women's Division after Qualifying


    Total 30 players advance to the finals; top 3 of the Local and Overseas Pool receive one bye.

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