25th September, Manila: American PBA pro, Doug Kent of Newark, N.Y. won his first Asian title after edging challenger, Michael Mak of Hong Kong, 192-180 in the title match to bag the 7th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge crown.

Doug Kent, winner of 10 PBA titles and 28 perfect games, did not get off the block in the title match against challenger, Michael Mak of Hong Kong after he conceeded a split in the second frame.

Second-seed and 15-year-old Mak started off with a double, two alternating spares and strikes and seemed to be heading for a second deciding match. Kent shot a double in the fifth and sixth frame to trail by just one frame at the halfway point.

But disaster struck Mak as he encountered back-to-back splits to allow his opponent to lead by a frame. Kent ended the match with 192 which meant Mak had to strike out to earn the decider.

The wonder kid struck on the tenth frame but was unable to carry on, ending his hopes for the title with 180. Kent became the second American PBA pro to win an Asian title after Tim Mack had won the Samho Korea Cup a week ago at Inchon.

Mak had almost shot the tournament's third perfect game when he trashed Korean Cha Mi Jung, 296-258 in the second match. Cha, who was seeded third, had edged fourth-seed, John Nolen of USA, 210-200 thanks to an 8-pin handicap alloted to a female competitor.

Kent won a whopping 1 million Peso (approx. US$21,000) while Mak settled for 500,000 peso (US$10,500). Cha took home 250,000 peso and Nolen 125,000 peso.

The champion had earlier topped the Round-robin Stage 3 finals with 1907 winnign five of the eight matches. Mak stormed home to take second spot with 1849 ahead of Cha Mi Jung third with 1830 and John Nolen fourth with 1828.

Stage 1 leader, Zulmazran Zulkifli missed the stepladder finals cut by just 6 pins finishing fifth with 1822 with team-mate, Aaron Kong sixth with 1767. Hussain Al-Suwaidi of UAE and American PBA pro, Rhino Page seventh and eighth.

Mak topped the Stage 2 finals in the morning to lead the top 8 into the Stage 3 finals with 1957 ahead of Cha Mi Jung and Zulmazran second and third with 1866 and 1847 respectively.

Photos courtesy of B.C. Cheah, MTBC.

24th September, Manila: Two-time Malaysian Open and Indonesia Open champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli set his sight on a third title of the year as he finished top of the 7th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge Stage 1 finals on Thursday evening.

Zulmazran Zulkifli had a dream start with a cracking 278 opening game but with Singapore's Jason Yeong-Nathan and team-mate, Adrian Ang getting off the block well, Zulmazran only led by 9 pins.

Newly-crowned, Samoho Korea Cup champion and American pro, Tim Mack then fired the tournament's second perfect game to storm into the lead, 17 pins ahead of the first perfect gamer, Cha Mi Jung of Korea in second.

The Korean female pro took over the running after the third game but just a single pin ahead of Malaysia's Aaron Kong making his bid as Zulmazran and company kept pace.

Zulmazran's 254 and 266 in his next two games put the 26-year-old Malaysian back into the lead at the halfway mark ahead of team-mate, Aaron Kong still in the hunt. From then on, the leader cruised to a comfortable end with 1957 for the pole position.

American, Doug Kent held on to second with 1913 while Hong Kong's Eric Tseng stormed home to snatch third spot with 1892. USA-PBA Mike Wolfe, who was second before the final game dropped to fourth with 1873 followed by Michael Mak rounding up the top 5 with 1869.

Tim Mack bowled a disasterous 169 in his final game and nose dived to 31st position and missing the cut. Also joining Mack was Day 4 top qualifier, Lonnie Waliczek who finished 26th position, 17 pins from the last qualifier, Benshir Layoso of MTBC-Henrich.

Also crashing out were Day 5 top qualifier, Jeong Tae Hwa of Korea, England's Stuart Williams, Filipino Paulo Valdez, Andrew Frawley and World Tenpin Masters Champion, Dominic Barrett of England.

The top 24 advanced into Stage 2 finals for another 8 games from scratch. The top 8 would proceed to the Round-Robin matchplay Stage 3 finals. At the end of the Stage 3, the top 4 would make the cut for the stepladder finals.

Photos courtesy of B.C. Cheah, MTBC.

23rd September, Manila: Korean pros shone on the final day of qualifying rounds of the 7th Eur-Med Storm International Masters Challenge as Jeong Tae Hwa and Gu Yong Jin takes top spot and third place on Day 5.

KPBA's Jeong Tae Hwa had totaled 1429 with his two best attempts of 678 and 751 on Tuesday to finish seventh on Day 4 qualifying and 18th overall. But the Korean pro stepped up his game to roll 777 at the 3.30pm squad and 683 at the 5.30pm squad to give him top spot and an automatic entry into the finals.

His improved two best series total of 1528 also put him firmly in third place overall. Day 1 second-placed, Eric Tseng and leader Michael Mak og Hong Kong both shot 1427 and 1426 to occupy second and third of the day.

Since both had already assured themselves automatic spots in the Stage 1 finals by virtue of finishing 1-2 on Day 1, the two remaining

spots may go to Singapore's Lee Yu Wen and Korean Gu Yong Jin.

JAB-Indonesia's Ryan Lalisang, who already made the finals with 1417, could not improve his total as he rolled 1346 to take up sixth position.

2002 Asian Championship Gold medalist and a member of KPBA, Cha Mi Jung became the first bowler to hit a perfect game yesterday to finish third of Day 4 qualifying en-route to an automatic berth in the finals.

A total of 15 daily top 3 finishers will be joined by positions 16 to 48 qualifiers for the Stage 1 Finals on tomorrow over 8 games. The top 24 will advance into Stage 2 for another 8 games to determine the top 8 who would proceed to the Stage 3 Round-Robin matchplay finals. The top 4 at the end of the Stage 3 Finals will make the cut for the Stepladder Finals.

Photos courtesy of www.jbowlmart.com.

22nd September, Manila: Another America PBA pro, Lonnie Waliczek of Whitita, Kansas snatched Day 4 top spot from Malaysia's Syafiq Ridhwan with the highest 6-game total of the 7th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge on Tuesday.

Winner of eight PBA Regional titles and two PBA Tour titles in the 2002-03 season, Lonnie Waliczek set the lanes at Paeng's Midtown Bowl on fire rolling 299, 267 and 218 for a series of 784 at the 1.00pm squad.

Waliczek then became the first bowler to surpass the 800-mark with 276, 268 and 258 for a 3-game series of 802 pushing him to the Day 4 top spot on an aggregate of 1586.

Indonesia Open first runnerup, Syafiq Ridhwan of Malaysia had just set the fourth day benchmark of 1522 and looked unbeatable but was pipped by the American's prowess. Aaron Kong almost gave Malaysia a one-two finish but settled for third with 1496.

PBAP-Storm champion, Wu Siu Hong og Hong Kong, who was third after the 1.00pm squad, lost his automatic berth into Stage 1 finals after being pushed down to fourth on his total of 1457.

Two-time Malaysian Open and Indonesia Open champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli, who was struggling yesterday, found his line to roll 1446 for fifth spot. Singapore's Mark Wong and Remy Ong also made good progress.

Wong tied sixth spot with Korea's Jeong Tae Hwa on 1429 while Ong rolled 1417 to take up eighth position.

Waliczek, Syafiq and Kong looked set to earn their automatic qualification into the September 24 Stage 1 Finals as the top 3 finishers of Day 4. Micahel Mak, Cyrus Cheung and Eric Tseng, all from Hong Kong were the Day 1 top 3.

Sammy Sy of MTBC-Henrich, Phiriyahbhoon P. and Annop Arromsaranon, both of Storm-Thailand were the Day 2 top 3 finishers while Americans Tom Smallwood, Mike Wolfe and Stuart Williams of England were the Day 3 top 3 finishers.

A total of 15 daily top 3 finishers will be joined by positions 16 to 48 qualifiers for the Stage 1 Finals on Thursday over 8 games. The top 24 will advance into Stage 2 for another 8 games to determine the top 8 who would proceed to the Stage 3 Round-Robin matchplay finals. The top 4 at the end of the Stage 3 Finals will make the cut for the Stepladder Finals.

Photos courtesy of www.PBA.com and B.C. Cheah, MTBC.

21st September, Manila: Amercian PBA pro and a Columbia Ball rep, Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Michigan rolled an impressive 1476 in his first two 3-game series to top Day 3 of the 7th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge on Monday.

Tom Smallwood, who has 5 career PBA 300 games and earned exemption to this year's PBA Tour through the trials, shot 237, 244 and 268 for a first 3-game series of 749. The 32-year-old followed it up with 222, 269 and 236 for a second series of 727 to give him the pole.

Equally impressive was another PBA pro, Mike Wolfe of New Albany, Indiana, who finished second to Smallwood with a total of 1444. Stuart Williams of England earned the automatic spot in the Stage 1 finals when he tied with Wolfe for second spot.

Newly-crowned Samho Korea Cup champion, Tim Mack of Storm-USA kept his good form to roll 1440 but missed the automatic entry into

the Stage 1 finals. However, his 1440 will be good enough to make the top 33.

Rollhouse Ankara Open champion, Adrian Ang also made an impact in his first two trys rolling down 747 and 691 for a total of 1438 and fifth of the day. Ex-international, Paulo Valdez, who was leading settled for sixth with 1426.

Day 1 leader, Michael Mak of Hong Kong occupied the top 3 automatic spots joined by team-mates, Cyrus Cheung and Eric Tseng. Sammy Sy of MTBC-Henrich, Phiriyahbhoon P. and Annop Arromsaranon of Storm-Thailand occuiped the second 3 spots.

Smallwood, Wolfe and Williams took up the next 3 spots earning the automatic entry into the Stage 1 finals. With Tuesday and Wendesday left for qualifying, the rush to make the cut will intensify.

Meanwhile, Javee Yusingco and Nilo Penado of PBA-Philippines topped the Bevida division qualifying table with 1506 and 1487 respectively. Gene Basa of PBAP-Bowlmart finished thirf with 1458

Photos courtesy of www.PBA.com.

21st September, Manila: Asian Youth Games two gold medalist and Hong Kong wonder kid, Michael Mak topped Day 1 qualifying round of the 7th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge underway at Paeng's Midtown Bowl.

The 15-year-old Hong Kong youngster, who finished second runnerup in the Macau China Open last month, proved that he has got what it takes to challenge his senior peers, shot 711 in his first 3-game series and 769 in his second series to top Day 1 qualifying round.

His 6-game aggregate of 1480 and pole position on Day 1 not only assured him a spot in the Stage 1 finals as well as leading a strong field after three days of qualifying.

His team-mate, Cyrus Cheung, who finished second with 1416 on Day 1, also ensured a spot in the Stage 1 finals. ABF Tour Bahrain leg champion, Eric Tseng gave Hong Kong the top 3 spot with 1412.

On Day 2, Sammy Sy of MTBC-Henrich took pole with 1408 followed by ABF Tour Macau leg semi-finalist, Phiriyahbhoon P. and Annop Arromsaranon of Storm-Thailand did well to take up second and third with 1390 and 1385 repectively.

Ex-international, Paulo Valdez impressed by taking top spot on Day 3 as of 1.00pm squad with a 6-game total of 1426 followed by Korea's Kweon Hyeok Yong in second and SBF-Singapore's Benjamin Lim third with 1381.

Some of the PBA pro bowlers, who were competing at the Samho Korea Cup at Inchon last week have also taken to the lanes for their qualifying rounds. Newly-crowned champion, Tim Mack was joined by Rhino Page.

Also competing were World Men's Championship bronze medalist, Mads Sandbaekken of Norway, World Tenpin Masters champion, Dominic Barrett of England and ABF Tour TOC champion, Andrew Frawley of Australia.

Michael Mak is overall leader with Valdez in second and Eric Tseng third with two more days of qualifying. The top 15 finishers from the five days of qualifying will be joined by the top 33 qualifiers for Stage 1 finals on Septmber 24.

Photos courtesy of www.jbowlmart.com.