Australian Open News

Greg Kelly has written an excellent article on the Australian Open. Click here for his 'Lawn Bowls on the Internet' site then scroll down on the left for 'Bowls Round Up' and click on the 13 June edition or click on the more tab below.

 

BOWLS ROUND UP

By Greg Kelly

13 / 06 / 15

 

"Today marks the start of a 5 year stint on the Gold Coast for the World’s richest bowls event, the $225,000 Australian Open.

 

Over 3000 entrants from all over Australia will line up in 3 disciplines, Singles, Pairs and Fours for the chance to claim the 2015 Australian Open titles.

 

The blue ribbon singles for the men starts today at 10 Gold Coast clubs with 828 entrants playing in 207 sections over the next 3 days.

 

The task ahead will not be easy for the start studded field including World Champion Alex Marshall now playing in Australia at Warilla.

 

When the dust settles on Monday evening the 207 section winners plus 49 “best losers” will play 8 knockout rounds in the main draw of 256 on Monday week.

 

With a prize pool of $34,200 for the men’s singles and $31,000 for the ladies singles and a first prize $16,000 the 2015 Australian Open Singles winner will need to win through sectional play this weekend and follow up with 8 knockout rounds from Monday week to claim the first prize and the title.

 

The Australian Open also features Pairs and Fours played over 12 days from today to Thursday June 25 and most of the competitors have all three disciplines which total a massive $101,200 for the men and $98,000 for the ladies.

Of the 207 sections in the mens sections of singles this weekend the most intriguing section is the first round match up between one of Queensland ’s top bowlers Sean Baker and star bowler Alex Marshall who clash in the first match at Helensvale this morning

 

English International Stuart Airey will also have his full when he plays local Abdul Latif at Tugun today and young gun Joel Anderson is also in the section.  

 

Local champion Kelvin Kerkow should have no trouble advancing to the main draw of 256 after sectional play at Musgrave Hill on Sunday.

 

The schedule of play over the next 12 days allows for sectional play in men’s singles Saturday to Monday followed by sectional in Pairs on Tuesday/Wednesday and fours on Thursday/Friday with knockout rounds continuing till the finals on Wednesday and Thursday June 24/25.

 

FoxSports will televise the Finals live at 11.00am and 2.00pm on both days with the Ladies Singles and Mens Pairs on Wednesday and the Ladies Pairs and Men’s Singles on Thursday.

 

The defending champions from 2014 are Victoria’s Nathan Wilson and Anne Johns from NSW.

 

The defending ladies pair’s champions are Emma Brown and Noelene Dutton from Queensland and Andrew Rees and Brendon Baker from NSW.

 

In the 10 years of the Australian Open, played in Victoria , the following players have etched their names in the Honour Roll  

Singles – 2005 Shane Globits, Roma Dunn, 2006 – Russel Meyer (NZ), Julie Keegan, 2007 – Robert Doody, Siti Zalina Ahmed (Malaysia), 2008 – Leif Selby, Katrina Wright, 2009 – Brett Wilkie, Kelsey Cottrell, 2010 – Aron Sherriff, Joyce Lindores, 2011 – Leif Selby, Lisa Phillips, 2012 – Mark Casey, Lynsey Armitage 2013 – Aaron Wilson, Lisa Phillips 2014 – Nathan Wilson, Anne Johns.

 

Of course bowls continue on after The Open with the 2 day Coolangatta Mens $6000  Bonanza Triples starting on Friday followed by the 4 day $20,000 Prestige Open Mixed Singles at Tweed Heads