18th September, Inchon: Globe-trotting American Storm staff, Tim Mack ended a long drought with a massive victory in the 11th Samho Korea Cup 2009 after he defeated challenger, Kim Yoon Ho, 237-232 in the TV Finals on Friday.

Tim Mack opened in his third frame of the title match as his challenger, Kim Yoon Ho of KPBA started with a turkey to build up a 31 pin lead. When the American recovered with a turkey in an attempt to narrow to gap, the Korean downed another turkey to maintain his distance.

The 38-year-old topseed then struck out from frame 8 to end the match with 237 while a costly opened frame in the ninth frame for Kim proved decisive ending his winning streak with 232.

The champion, whose last Asian victory was winning the Team Gold medal at the 2003 World Championship in Malaysia, ended a six year drought to cap off the victory and the top prize of 30 million Korean won (approx. US$24,850).

The runnerup had edged American pro Wes Malott, 49-39 in the ninth and tenth frame tie-breaker when both were locked at 235 in the third stepladder match to face Mack in the title match.

Kim also eliminated another American pro, Sean Rash, 243-215 in the second match and fellow-countrymen, Kim Young Kwan, 246-235 in the first all-Korean stepladder match.

Photos courtesy of www.bowling.co.kr.

17th September, Inchon: American pros dominated the Top 12 Round-Robin finals of the 11th Samho Korea Cup 2009 as Tim Mack led his compatriots, Wes Malott and Sean Rash to take up the top 3 positions.

2008 PBA Bowler of the Year, Wes Malott, who led throughout the first three blocks, continued his fine form to finish top of the Top 36 Finals with a 24-game total of 5807 after he shot 1341 series.

Tim Mack, who trailed Malott by 67 pins, topped the Top 12 Round-Robin Finals after winning eight and drawing one of the 12 matches played amassing a score of 2797 and 255 pins bonus (30 for a win, 15 for a draw).

Mack's 36-game total of 8792 gave him the lead and advanced into the stepladder finals as topseed. Malott settled for second with 8789 after also winning eight matches but posted a 12-match total of 2742.

Another American pro, Sean Rash, who was fifth in the earlier round, posted a higher 12-match score of 2824 but won six matches and drawing one for a total of 8700 to give the American pros a one-two-three finish.

DSD-Samho's Kim Yoon Ho of Korea finished fourth with 8664 after winning eight matches and drawing one on a 12-match score of 2812 while the fifth and final stepladder spot went to KPBA' s Kim Young Kwan on 8564 total.

PBA pro, Pete Weber missed the cut by 28 pins after he amassed 8536 from a 12-match score of 2739 and seven wins. No. 4 seed, Kim Yoon ho will face No. 5 seed, Kim Young Kwan in the all-Korean first stepladder match.

The winner will meet No. 3 seed, Sean Rash in the second match. The winner of the second match will face No. 2 seed Wes Malott in the third match. Topseed, Tim Mack will meet the winner of the third match in the title match.

Photos courtesy of www.koreapba.com.

16th September, Inchon: 2008 PBA Player of the Year, Wes Malott of Pflugerville, Texas topped the leaderboard of the 11th Samho Korea Cup 2009 at Hogye Bowling Center on Wednesday.

Wes Malott, who has six PBA titles under his belt including the three in the 2008-09 season en-route to winning hsi first PBA Player of the Year honour, shot 1510 in his first squad. The 33-year-old American pro posted another superb 1511 to give him a 12-game tally of 3021 and the lead.

Malott started off his second squad with a scintillating 278 followed by a 269 and 247. A lowly 217 and 211 in the fourth and fifth game did not stop the PBA pro to finish it off with another 289 scorcher.

He led the field of 180 top pro bowlers followed by Korea's Kim Young-Kwan in second with 2924 from two 6-game series of 1461 and 1463.

Globe-trotting PBA pro, Tim Mack of USA, who shot the tournament's second perfect game, did well to take up third spot with 2895 followed by another pro, Sean Rash fourth with 2852. Korea's Kang Jong Feel rounded up the top 5 with 2825.

The best non-pro from Asia was two-time Malaysian Open and this year's Indonesia Open champion, Zulmazran Zulkifli of Malaysia, who posted 1327 in his first squad ans 1402 in his second to take up 27th position.

PBA Rookie of the Year, Jason Belmonte managed only 2701 to take up 39th position. Other Asians were Thailand's Surasak Manuwong (132nd-2491), Yannaphon Larpharat (139th-2478) and Singapore's Remy Ong (140th-2472).

Some of the notable top US professionals, Parker Bohn III and World Men's CHampionship Gold medalist, Rhino Page managed only 51st and 102nd places respectively. A third squad of another six games will be played on Thursday, and only the top 36 out of 180 will make to the next round.

Photos courtesy of www.PBA.com.