10th October, Jakarta: Jaya Ancol Bowl had a great start to their sponsorship of the ABF Tour Indonesia leg when Putty Armein of Indonesia, captured the women's crown defeating fellow-countrywoman, Novie Phang, 193-187.

Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE, took home the top prize of US$5,000 and the title after he narrowly defeated Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong, 238-236 in the men's division.

ABF Tour debutant, Novie Phang could not have asked for a better start to her road to glory when she knocked out sole Malaysian survivor, Lai Kin Ngoh, 236-204 in the first women's semifinal match to make the finals.

And to the delight of a packed crowd present at the 60-lane Jaya Ancol Bowl, Indonesia's Putty Armein got the supporters on their feet when she outclassed 2003 Singapore Open champion, Evelyn Chan, 246-216 making the finals an all-Indonesia affair.

The final glory eventually came to 23-year-old Indonesian national bowler, Putty Armein after she edged her less-experienced opponent, Novie Phang, 193-187 to win her first major international title. Putty, who started bowling at the age of 13, was somewhat fortunate that a miss in the ninth frame by Phang turned the table in her favor.

Phang settled for US$1,300 for finishing second while the champion, Armein won US$2,500. The two loosing semifinalists, Evelyn Chan and Lai Kin Ngoh won US$800 each. Prizes were awarded for the first time in the ABF Tour Indonesia leg after Jaya Ancol Bowl signed up as the major sponsor of this penultimate leg.

Meanwhile, Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE took home the top prize of US$5,000 and the title after he edged his opponent, Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong in a nail-biting finale. The champion opened the account with four strikes-in-a-row to take an early lead. Wu responded by knocking down five-in-a-row to within 1 pin in the 8th frame. Another strike in the 9th and foundation frame sealed the game for Al-Hassan after Wu could only spare home for 236 to the champion's 238.

The champion reached the finals after he ousted Singapore's Remy Ong by the narrowest of margin, 248-247 in the first semifinal match. Wu outclassed his opponent, Joonee Gatchalian of the Philippines, 248-226 to set up the match with Al-Hassan.

The runner-up settled for US$2,300 for finishing second while the loosing semifinalists, Remy Ong and Joonee Gatchalian received US$1,000 each. With the fifth leg successfully concluded, the Tour will move to the final leg in Hong Kong in November 27 - 28, 2004.

The ABF Tour comprises six Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg will be staged over two competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters Event (Open Grade) will compete in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

The Tournament of Champions will be staged over four competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers (based on ABF Tour ranking points), plus two additional wildcard entries from the West Asia region (thus totalling 18 men in the men's division), will qualify to compete over four rounds of competition for the coveted men's and women's ABF Tour Champion titles.

The ABF Tour - Indonesia will be shown on local television stations of the six countries where the tour is being held. It is also broadcast later from parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, central Asia, China and Australasia with an estimated audience of around 90 million. Please check local TV listings for viewing times.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com or by visiting ABF Tour official website: www.abftour.com".

Photos courtesy of Daniel Winardi, PBI.

9th October, Jakarta: Hong Kong's Wu Siu Hong and Singapore's Evelyn Chan scored high games in Rounds 1 and 2 of the ABF Tour Indonesia at Jaya Ancol Bowl en-route to qualifying for the semifinals.

They were joined by crowd favourites, Novie Phang and Putty Armein giving Indonesia a good start on Day One in the penultimate leg of the highly popular Asian Bowling Fedeartion Tour.

Wu Siu Hong, the 2003 Asian Ranked No. 1, put on scintillating display to knock out Malaysian hopeful, Ben Heng 258-192 in Round 1 to register the men's highest game of the day. The 20-year-old student from Hong Kong, went on to defeat Filipino, Chester King, 218-213 in Round 2 to take up the first of the men's semifinals spot.

Newly-crowned Indonesia Open champion, Ahmed Shaheen was surprisingly knocked out by 2003 Philippines Open champion, Joonee Gatchalian of the Philippines, 179-213. Gatchalian took up the men's second semifinals berth after edging Malaysia's Daniel Lim, 213-201 in Round 2.

Asian Championship Gold medalist, Shaker Al-Hassan of UAE and 5th

Qatar Open champion, Remy Ong occupied the other two semifinals places after winning their rounds convincingly. Two southpaws, Al-Hassan and Ong will face off each other in the first semifinal match while Joonee Gatchalian is matched up against Wu Siu Hong in the other match.

In the women's division, 2003 Singapore Open champion, Evelyn Chan dashed Indonesia's hopes when she defeated local crowd favourite, Happy Soediyono, 256-248 to earn a semifinal berth. The 32-year-old member of Team Singapore had earlier knocked out third-seed, Choy Poh Lai of Malaysia, 214-194 in Round 1.

The opener between Indonesia Open champion and Filipina, Liza Del Rosario and current Asian Ranked No. 1, Shalin Zulkifli would have been a delight but two opened frames from the top-seed and one from the Malaysian brought the game to a 151-192 conclusion favouring Shalin.

Undoubtedly the day belonged to the local women as newcomer, Novie Phang upset her more experienced opponent to defeat Shalin, 246-196 in

Round 2 while Putty Armein knocked out another Malaysian and ex-international, Tang Joh Six, 210-155 in the other match to send the two Indonesians into the semifinals.

The sole surviving Malaysian, Lai Kin Ngoh took the last semifinal spot convincingly when she defeated fourth-seed, Jojo Canare, 228-191 in Round 1 and Singapore's Alice Tay, 257-163 in the Round 2. Novie Phang will meet Lai Kin Ngoh in the first of the women's semifinal match while Evelyn Chan is matched up against local heroine, Putty Armein in the other match.

The ABF Tour will comprise six Legs and a Grand Final, the Tournament of Champions. Each Leg will be staged over two competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers from the preceding International Open Masters Event (Open Grade) will compete in a one-game match play knock-out competition for the individual men's and women's titles.

The Tournament of Champions will be staged over four competition days where the top 16 men and 16 women bowlers (based on ABF Tour ranking points), plus two additional wildcard entries from the West Asia region (thus totalling 18 men in the men's division), will qualify to compete over four rounds of competition for the coveted men's and women's ABF Tour Champion titles.

The ABF Tour - Indonesia will be shown on local television stations of the six countries where the tour is being held. It is also broadcast later from parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, central Asia, China and Australasia with an estimated audience of around 90 million.

For further information and details please contact ABF Tour Committee Marketing and Event Management Division at Tel: (852) 2810 5191; Fax: (852) 28105192; Mr. Ritchie Lai (Mobile: (852) 93598669; email: ritchie.lai@tndgroup.com or Mr. Kelvin Pong (Mobile: (852) 9100 0958; email: Kelvin.pong@tndgroup.com. Visit www.abftour.com for LIVE scores.

Photos courtesy of Daniel Winardi, PBI.