Aussie Sam Cooley and Sharon Koh of Malaysia remained undefeated in four single-elimination matches to win the men’s and women’s titles in the 2016 Asian Bowling Federation Tour Thailand leg Monday at Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl Ratchayothinon in Bangkok, Thailand.

Cooley (pictured left) averaged 265.25 over four games and cruised to his third career ABFT title with a near-perfect 295-216 win against local favorite Yannaphon Larpapharat. Cooley, who improved on a second-place finish last year, received a $1,000 bonus from Tour sponsor Alisports for his third victory on the Tour after Thailand (2013) and Hong Kong (2014).

Cooley came out the gates commandingly, defeating Syaffique Ikhwan, Malaysia, in the first round, 267-247, followed by a 264-219 win against Annop Arromsaranon, Thailand, in round two.

In the semifinals, Cooley ousted Muhd Nur Aiman (left, l-r), Malaysia, 235-195, while Yannaphon eliminated Eric Tseng (right, l-r), Hong Kong, 236-199. Yannaphon received a $500 bonus for second place while the semifinal losers each got $250.

Sharon Koh capped off the comeback of the Malaysian bowlers on the ABF Tour by winning her first career title with a 227-213 victory over team mate Hee Kar Yen. Koh pocketed $1,000, while Hee got $500 for second place.

The Malaysians sidelined two Indonesian bowlers in the semifinals to advance to the title match. Koh eliminated Tannya Roumimper (left, r-l), 224-204, while Hee flew past Novie Phang (right, r-l), 191-140. The Indonesians each received $250.

Ms Vivien Lau, seretary general of World Bowling and ABF Tour organizing chairman presented the prizes to the winners (pictured below with the champions).

The top 16 Asian men and the top 16 Asian women in the 42nd MWA Singha Thailand International Open advanced to the ABF Tour Thailand leg, which was the first leg of the 2016 season and the third event after the H.H. Emir Cup 2016 and the 14th Kingdom of Bahrain International Bowling Championship, which counted as an ABF Ranking tournament.

The 2016 Asian Bowling Federation Tour consists of six legs for both men and women and four ranking tournaments for men only. Only Asian bowlers are eligible to participate in the ABF Tour.

Players earn ranking points based on how they finish in each event. The top 16 men and the top 16 women at the end of the 2016 season qualify for the ABF Tour Tournament of Champions scheduled for March 2017 (tbc) in Kuwait.

The 2016 ABF Tour commences with the 18th Sinai International Open Tenpin Bowling Tournament, an ABFT ranking tournament which will be held April 23-29 at the International Bowling Center in Cairo, Egypt.

Photos courtesy of www.abftour.com.

2016 ABF Tour Thailand leg – Men’s Division

Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl Ratchayothinon in Bangkok, Thailand (April 18, 2016)

Championship:
Sam Cooley, Australia def. Yannaphon Larpapharat, Thailand, 295-216

Semifinal:
Yannaphon Larpapharat, Thailand def. Eric Tseng, Hong Kong, 236-199
Sam Cooley, Australia def. Muhd Nur Aiman, Malaysia, 235-195

Quarterfinal:
Yannaphon Larpapharat, Thailand def. Remy Ong, Singapore, 225-223
Eric Tseng, Hong Kong def. Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkut, Thailand, 235-223
Sam Cooley, Australia def. Annop Arromsaranon, Thailand, 264-219
Muhd Nur Aiman, Malaysia def. Alex Liew, Malaysia, 200-183

Round of 16:
Remy Ong, Singapore def. Kim Bolleby, Thailand, 263-247
Yannaphon Larpapharat, Thailand def. Muhd Rafiq Ismail, Malaysia, 242-234
Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkut, Thailand def. Wan Syahmi, Malaysia, 210-194
Eric Tseng, Hong Kong def. Ryan Lalisang, Indonesia, 242-227
Annop Arromsaranon, Thailand def. Atchariya Cheng, Thailand, 214-171
Sam Cooley, Australia def. Syaffique Ikhwan, Malaysia, 267-247
Muhd Nur Aiman, Malaysia def. Lee Tak Man, Macau, 211-203
Alex Liew, Malaysia def. Adrian Ang, Malaysia, 245-194

2016 ABF Tour Thailand leg – Men’s Final Standings

Players with position, country and ranking points

1. Sam Cooley (right), Australia, 75
2. Yannaphon Larpapharat, Thailand, 60
3. Eric Tseng, Hong Kong, 46
4. Muhd Nur Aiman, Malaysia, 45
5. Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkut, Thailand, 33
6. Remy Ong, Singapore, 32
7. Annop Arromsaranon, Thailand, 31
8. Alex Liew, Malaysia, 30
9. Kim Bolleby, Thailand, 19.5
10. Syaffique Ikhwan, Malaysia, 19.5
11. Muhd Rafiq Ismail, Malaysia, 18
12. Ryan Lalisang, Indonesia, 17
13. Lee Tak Man, Macau, 16
14. Adrian Ang, Malaysia, 15
15. Wan Syahmi, Malaysia, 14
16. Atchariya Cheng, Thailand, 13

2016 ABF Tour Men’s Ranking – Standings after 3/10 events

Players with position, country and ranking points. The top 16 will qualify for the ABFT Tournament of Champions.

1. Yousif Falah, Bahrain, 135
2. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, Bahrain, 75
(tie) Sam Cooley, Australia, 75
4. Jassim Al-Muraikhi, Qatar, 64
5. Eric Tseng, Hong Kong, 61
6. Michael Mak, Hong Kong, 60
(tie) Ryan Lalisang, Indonesia, 60
(tie) Yannaphon Larpapharat, Thailand, 60
9. Rickle Kam, Hong Kong, 50
10. Mostafa Al-Mousawi, Kuwait, 46
(tie) Wu Siu Hong, Hong Kong, 46
12. Hazeem Al-Muraikhi, Qatar, 45
(tie) Osama A Rahman, Bahrain, 45
(tie) Muhd Nur Aiman, Malaysia, 45
15. Naif Oqab, United Arab Emirates, 33
(tie) Badin Lerdpiriyasakulkut, Thailand, 33
17. Yousef Al-Jaber, Qatar, 32
(tie) Mohammed Al-Merekhi, Qatar, 32
(tie) Mohamed Janahi, Bahrain, 32
(tie) Remy Ong, Singapore, 32
21. Ghanim Aboujassoum, Qatar, 31
(tie) Annop Arromsaranon, Thailand, 31
23. Alex Liew, Malaysia, 30
24. Mohammed Alsaud, Saudi Arabia, 20
(tie) Kim Bolleby, Thailand, 19.5
(tie) Syaffique Ikhwan, Malaysia, 19.5
27. Mohammed Al-Marzooqi, United Arab Emirates, 19
(tie) Lai Kwun Ho, Hong Kong, 19
29. Ahmed A Jabbar, Bahrain, 18
(tie) Muhd Rafiq Ismail, Malaysia, 18
31. Jassem Al-Saqer, Kuwait, 17
(tie) Ahmed Al-Malki, Bahrain, 17
33. Khaled Al-Dubyyan, Kuwait, 16
(tie) Mike Chan, Hong Kong, 16
(tie) Lee Tak Man, Macau, 16
36. Omar Rashaid, Bahrain, 15
(tie) Adrian Ang, Malaysia, 15
38. Mansour Al-Awami, Qatar, 14
(tie) Wan Syahmi, Malaysia, 14
40. Joshua Chow, Hong Kong, 13
(tie) Atchariya Cheng, Thailand, 13

2016 ABF Tour Thailand leg – Women’s Division

Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl Ratchayothinon in Bangkok, Thailand (April 18, 2016)

Championship:
Sharon Koh, Malaysia def. Hee Kar Yen, Malaysia, 227-213

Semifinal:
Hee Kar Yen, Malaysia def. Novie Phang, Indonesia, 191-140
Sharon Koh, Malaysia def. Tannya Roumimper, Indonesia, 224-204

Quarterfinal:
Novie Phang, Indonesia def. Tanaprang Sathean, Thailand, 205-156
Hee Kar Yen, Malaysia def. Sharon Limansantoso, Indonesia, 195-167
Sharon Koh, Malaysia def. Dayang Khairuniza, Malaysia, 227-190
Tannya Roumimper, Indonesia def. Esther Cheah, Malaysia, 253-227

Round of 16:
Novie Phang, Indonesia def. Yanee Saebae, Thailand, 200-146
Tanaprang Sathean, Thailand def. Han Sol, Korea, 212-201
Hee Kar Yen, Malaysia def. Milki Ng, Hong Kong, 163-162
Sharon Limansantoso, Indonesia def. Sin Li Jane, Malaysia, 231-216
Dayang Khairuniza, Malaysia def. Nur Syazwani Sahar, Malaysia, 198-165
Sharon Koh, Malaysia def. Thitima Thondurasgsaard, Thailand, 188-179
Esther Cheah, Malaysia def. Natasha Roslan, Malaysia, 234-184
Tannya Roumimper, Indonesia def. Alisha Nabila, Indonesia, 182-163

2016 ABF Tour Thailand leg – Women’s Final Standings

Players with position, country and ranking points

1. Sharon Koh (right), Malaysia, 75
2. Hee Kar Yen, Malaysia, 60
3. Tannya Roumimper, Indonesia, 46
4. Novie Phang, Indonesia, 45
5. Esther Cheah, Malaysia, 33
6. Dayang Khairuniza, Malaysia, 32
7. Sharon Limansantoso, Indonesia, 31
8. Tanaprang Sathean, Thailand, 30
9. Sin Li Jane, Malaysia, 20
10. Han Sol, Korea, 19
11. Natasha Roslan, Malaysia, 18
12. Tithima Thongsard, Thailand, 17
13. Nur Syazwani Sahar, Malaysia, 16
14. Alisha Nabila, Indonesia, 15
15. Milki Ng, Hong Kong, 14
16. Yanee Saebae, Thailand, 13

2016 ABF Tour Women’s Ranking – Standings after 1/6 events

Players with position, country and ranking points. The top 16 will qualify for the ABFT Tournament of Champions.

1. Sharon Koh, Malaysia, 75
2. Hee Kar Yen, Malaysia, 60
3. Tannya Roumimper, Indonesia, 46
4. Novie Phang, Indonesia, 45
5. Esther Cheah, Malaysia, 33
6. Dayang Khairuniza, Malaysia, 32
7. Sharon Limansantoso, Indonesia, 31
8. Tanaprang Sathean, Thailand, 30
9. Sin Li Jane, Malaysia, 20
10. Han Sol, Korea, 19
11. Natasha Roslan, Malaysia, 18
12. Tithima Thongsard, Thailand, 17
13. Nur Syazwani Sahar, Malaysia, 16
14. Alisha Nabila, Indonesia, 15
15. Milki Ng, Hong Kong, 14
16. Yanee Saebae, Thailand, 13