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EBI takes 2 of 3 titles in Hong Kong
Oct 14, 2009
Ebonite International, Inc. has left its mark on Hong Kong and captured two of three titles in the 35th Annual Hong Kong International Open.
Ebonite’s John Nolen took home his first Asian Masters title after defeating Thailand’s Yannaphon Larpapharat 233-197.
“It’s a very rewarding to finally land an Asian title,” Nolen said. “I knew I had to bowl well in order to … win, especially when my opponent had a good run in the first two matches.”
Yannaphon defeated Ebonite International’s No. 2-seeded Lonnie Waliczek 245-226 to earn a bid at the title, keeping the final showdown from being a U.S. event.
Waliczek had a stellar opening game to open the field of 38 finalist rolling 256, 237, 204 and 221 but oily lane conditions caused him to slip up and roll a 156 for the fifth game, from which he was never able to recover.
Nolen brought home $6,500 (50,000 Hong Kong) for his master’s title win and Waliczek brought home $1,800 (14,000 Hong Kong). Also while in Hong Kong, Nolen captured the singles and all-events titles.
EBI’s Doug Kent also claimed his first Asian title Sept. 25 when he ousted Hong Kong’s Michael Mak 192-180 to claim the 7th Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge Crown.
Kent, a 10-time PBA titlist, was neck-and-neck with the 15-year-old challenger until the teen had back-to-back splits that allowed Kent to take the lead with 192.
Kent netted $21,000 for the win.
Tom Smallwood and Waliczek, both with EBI, also made a showing in the Euro-Med challenge taking Day 3 and 4 of the event.
On Day 4, Waliczek, of Wichita, Kan., became the first bowler to surpass 800 when he rolled games of 276, 268 and 258, putting him in the lead of the international master’s challenge.
A Columbia 300 representative, Smallwood, of Saginaw, Mich., opened Day 3 by shooting games of 237, 244 and 268 followed up by games of 222, 269 and 236 for a grand total of 1476.
