7th April, Bangkok: Youths from Korea came away with two titles at the 44th MWA-Singha Thailand International Open Bowling Championships after Park Geon Ha led a 1-2-3 finish in the Youth Under-21 finals and Oh Jin Won took the Youth Under-18 crown.

Debutant Jo Young Bin of Korea got off to a cracking start with an opening game of 258 to lead compatriot, Han Jae Hyeon and Supakrit Wantasuk of Thailand sharing second spots, 12 pins behind.

2017 Asian Schools two gold medallist, Gillian Lim of Malaysia took over the running thanks to a handicap of 9 pins per game after she added 189 to her first game of 245. Han took over second position, 10 pins adrift as Jo slipped down to third.

Park almost rolled the a perfect game in the third but was content with 299 to leapfrog into the lead. Han also had a superb game of 269 to stay just 20 pins behind Park while Lim dropped to third.

Meanwhile in the earlier Youth Under-18 Masters finals, Oh Jin Won of Korea literally led from start to finish to take the title with 1782, averaging an impressive 222.8, including a high game of 266 in the third.

Thai youths did well to take second and third spots as Chanathip Prempree and Teerachata Rachatahiranyakan totaled 1728 and 1658 respectively. Jeremiah Khoo and Owen Wong Wen Fei of Singapore Sport School rounded out the top five with 1599 and 1587.

Oh pocketed 45,000 baht for his victory with the Thai runners-up winning 23,000 and 12,000 baht respectively. Qualifying resumes for the Men's Graded A and B, Ladies Graded and the Senior division for the next two days.

The Korean leader continued his blistering pace by adding 232, 237 and 223 in his next three games before easing off with 193 in the eighth and final game to take a well-deserved victory with 1881.