23rd June, Macau: 2019 Macao-China International Open first runners-up, Milki Ng of Hong Kong and Lee Tak Man of Macau made amends by capturing the Women's and Men's titles of the ABF Tour 2019 at COTAI Bowling Centre on Sunday.
Hong Kong's Milki Ng captured her second tour title after a nerve-wreaking final against local favourite and 2010 ABF Tour Macau champion, Hui Tong of Macau. Hui started off with three consecutive strikes to open up a gap of 22 pins.
When Ng failed to spare her fourth frame, the gap increased to 32 pins. Another strike from Hui increased the gap to 43 pins after the fifth frame and had looked well on her way to victory. But disaster struck when she missed a single pin in the sixth frame and had two more opened frames in the seventh and eighth.
Ng recovered with a double in the seventh and eighth frames despite encountering another opened frame in the sixth. There wwas nothing seperating the duo up to the ninth frame tieing at 182 a piece.
Second tour title for topseed, Milki Ng
The Hong Kong national then suffered a split in her last frame to end with 191. All Hui needed was to ensure she marked her tenth frame but disaster struck again when she was handed a 7-10 split and taking one pin meant both would have to contest a 9 and 10 frame roll-off to break the tie.
Hui failed to spare her ninth frame and could not strike in the tenth for only 28 pins while Ng struck twice to win the tie-breaker and the women's crown with 60. Ng narrowly beat Gigi Leung in the first all-Hong Kong semi-final, 228-222 to advance to the final.
The champion sailed past compatriot, Tilda Shum, 243-190 in the opening round and Macau's Wong Son Ian, 222-192 in the second round to make the semi-finals. Ng was awarded her second tour trophy and a cash prize of US$500.
Hui settled for US$300 as first runner-up while MIsaki Mukotani of Japan and Leung earned US$150 each as second and third runners-up. Ms Vivien Lau, ABF Tour Committee Chairman and World Bowling secretary general presented the trophy and prizes to the women winners.
Meanwhile, in the Men's final match, Lee denied Hong Kong a double celebration when he narrowly beat Lau Kwun Ho, 267-264 to win his fourth career tour title. But the Macau national bowler had to work doubly hard to earn the victory.
Lau started off with a strike in his opening frame and Lee only spared his first frame. Whilst Lau could not doubled up in his second frame, Lee thrilled his local supporters by rolling seven consecutive strikes.
His opponent responded with a double in the third and fourth frames and another double in the sixth and seventh frames to narrow the gap to 25 pins. Lau struck home in the ninth and tenth frames to end with 264 forcing Lee needing to mark his two final frames.
Lee managed nine pin and spared, then made a seemingly perfect shot only to see pin 7 and 10 standing but a messenger came by to take out pin 7 to the relieve of Lee and all his supporters. He kept his composure to spare the single pin to seal victory.
First runner-up for Lau Kwun Ho
Lee also edged another Hong Kong national, Ivan Ise 279-262 in the second semi-final match to reach the final while Lau ousted his compatriot, Jimmy Cheung 268-233 in the other all-Hong Kong second semi to face Lee in the final.
The champion also registered the highest game of the leg when he trashed James Lui of Hong Kong, 289-201 in the opening round and another Hong Kong national, Tony Wong, 257-214 in the second round.
Lee was awarded his fourth tour trophy and a cash prize of US$500 while Lau settled for US$300. Tse and Chueng picked up US$150 each as second and third runners-up. Mr Chao Kuok Wai, Head of Sports Development Department, Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government presented the prizes.
The ABF Tour Macau 2019 is the first of three legs to be staged in East Asia. The next stop will held in Hong Kong on July 21. For further information and details, please contact ABF Tour Committee at Tel: +852 2893 6039, Fax: +852 2893 6290; Email: hktbc@netvigator.com.
Photos by Terence Yaw in Macau.
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