Lising bags lone gold in lawn bowls

ANGELES CITY — Ronald Lising pulled through in a thriller of a finish to win the gold medal yesterday in the men’s singles of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games lawn bowls tournament here at the Hidden Vale Sports Club here.

Lising, a native of Angeles City, held on to a slim cushion in the final end of the match, 20-19, then rolled the ball between a two-ball gap just near the jack (target) to seal the victory and the country’s first gold medal in the event since 2001.

Lising played catch-up with Malaysia’s Syed Mohamad Syed Akil most of the match, trailing by as many as five points at one stage of the game. The Filipino seized the initiative by scoring back-to-back points and tying the count at 19-all. Syed could only give Lising a scare in the last part of the match, placing the ball very close to the target.

Lising’s win was the only bright spot for the locals on the final day of lawn bowls action. Filipina Maila Witheridge succumbed to Thailand’s Songsin Tsao, 11-21, to cop the silver medal in the women’s singles.

The women’s triples team of Ellenita Atkins, Sonia Bruce, and Rosita Bradborn bowed to Malaysia’s Noriryani Azmi, Azlina Arshad and Norhashimah Ismail, 12-23, in their final meeting while the men’s pair of Leo Carreon and Chris Dagpin lost to Malaysia’s Fairul Izwan abd. Muin and Safuan Said, 15-34 and settled for silver.

The tandem of Philippine Lawn Bowls Association president Ronalyn Greenlees and Amy Gardoce dominated HJH. Ajijah Muntol and Amp. Hjh. Lilimaryani Amp. Hj. Salleh of Brunei early in the match to win the game and the bronze medal, 18-9.

The RP men’s triples team also escaped a 15-14 thriller by Thailand to win the bronze medal. Rey Samia, Angelo Morales and Herminio Dagpin made crucial rolls towards the end of the match, while the Thai team of Sukum Moongchomklang, Tanongsak Klinsorn and Chaithai Kanchanakaphan could not score on their turn paving for the Filipinos’ victory.