14th December, Seberang Prai: Debutant, Cho Chan Yeong of Jeonnam City, Korea won the Mixed Open Round 1 Masters finals of the 46th Penang Pesta International Bowling Championships with compatriot, Park Dae Hee in second and Zulmazran Zulkifli of Malaysia in third.

Jordan Dinham of Tenpin Sport Australia got off the block with a sizzling 258 to lead Malaysia's Amirah Auni by two pins as the latter posted 256 in her first game. The Aussie added another good game of 233 to extend the lead to 37 pins.

Cho, who rolled 221 in his first game, added another another fine game of 233 to move up into second spot. Abang Afiq Yazid trailed the pair in third with two ex-national bowlers, Zulmazran and Muhammad Nur Aiman in fourth and fifth positions.

The 20-year-old high school student from Jeonnam posted another superb game of 232 to take over the running from Dinham as the Aussie managed 191. Cho was on a roll, reeling in a stunning 278 in the fourth game to pull away his nearest rival.

Nur Aiman moved into the lead breifly after the a 235 in the fifth game as Cho stumbled to a poor 179. Dinham, Rezaldy and Zulmazran continued to keep pace with the leading duo. Cho bounced back with 258 in the sixth game to regain the lead.

Syaffique Ikhwan of Malaysia posted a sizzling 278 to leapfrog into second spot, 32 pins behind while Zulmazran continued to strongly in third with Rezaldy in fourth. Nur Aiman dropped down to fifth after a poor 187.

There was simply no stopping the Korean as he cruised home with 266 and 216 to win the round with 1883, averaging an impressive 235.38. His compatriot, Park stormed home with 287, 256 and 223 in his last three games to snatch second position with 1806 for a Korean one-two.

Zulmazran ended the strongest amongst the rest with 236 to take up third position with 1798. Ikhwan and Rezaldy completed the top five with 1777 and 1772. The cut in 18th position went to Singapore's Timothy Tham with 1698.

Newly-crowned Youth Girls Open champion and national youth, Ameera Dato Aznel missed the cut by 15 pins in 19th position with 1673.