18th December, Seberang Prai: Topseed Kang Hee Won defeated team-mate, Hwang Dong Wook, 220-192 in the all-Korean final match to capture the Mixed Open Masters crown of the 47th Penang Pesta International Bowling Championships while Radin Nur Najwa of Malaysia picked up the Women's top prize.

Kang, the 2015 World Men's Championships Masters gold medallist, wasted no time when he rolled four consecutive strikes to open up a 21 pin lead over Hwang, who managed a double in the second and third frames.

A split in the fifth frame by Hwang extended the gap to 29 pins. Hwang recovered with another double in the seventh and eighth frames to narrow the deficit down to 17 pins. Kang then encountered an unlucky eight-pin split which he failed to convert.

And when Hwang rolled another strike in the ninth frame, the match appeared very much in favour of the challenger. But Kang bounced back with a double in the tenth and eleventh frames and an eight-pin count to end with 220.

Hwang needed to strike out in order to force the tie into a sudden-death decider. But Hwang sent the ball way too much to the right and fell into the gutter. Unable to make a spare, Hwang had to concede defeat with 192.

Hwang had advanced to the title match after he edged third-seed, Sam Cooley of Australia, 186-178 in the semi-finals. Kang picked up the top prize of RM20,000 (approx. US$5,000) as champion while Hwang settled for RM12,000 and the Aussie took home RM8,000 as second runner-up.

In the earlier 8-games Round 2 finals, Kang finished as topseed with 1902 thanks to back-to-back 279s in the sixth and seventh games. Hwang stormed home with 244 and 289 in his last two games to snatch second spot with 1878.

Cooley also ended strongly with 266 and 226 in the seventh and eighth games to clinch third position with 1872. Muhammad Hariz Adlan of MMBC, Penang, who was second before the final game, missed the stepladder cut to finish fourth with 1854.

Pace-setter, Ahmad Aidil of MBI, Penang had a poor final game of 191 to drop from first down to fifth with 1843. Overnight Round 1 leader, Syaffique Ikhwan of HPS, Malaysia, ended in a disappointing tenth position.

Radin Nur Najwa of MTBC, Malaysia picked up the Women's top prize of RM5,000. Kim Ji Su and Sung Gyeong Eun of Ulsan City Hall, Korea was the second and third best women finishers to take home RM3,000 and RM1,500.

Dr Ong Shaw Fen, Deputy President of PTBPP was on hand to present the prizes to the winners. PTBPP will host the victory banquet at the official hotel, Vouk Hotel Suites later this evening.

The 47th Penang Pesta International Bowling Championships is organized by Persatuan Tenpin Bowling Pulau Pinang and supported by Majlis Sukan Pulau Pinang and held at Megamall Bowling Centre.

Photos by Terence Yaw in Seberang Prai, Malaysia.