2019 Seniors Australian Open Goes Down to the Wire
By Chris Rushton
The Seniors Australian Open went down to the wire yesterday afternoon with Christine Clark and Ralph Harford claiming victory in the seniors divisions.
With 16 games across two days deciding the overall winners, the 2019 titles came down to the final game yesterday. In the senior men’s division Paul Campbell lead Harford by 27 pins with one game to go. But in the final game Campbell bowled 204 to see Harford strike from the 7th frame until the last to bowl 238, which was enough to see the Wyncity bowler finish on top of the podium with a pinfall of 3539 and 7 pins in front of second placed Campbell, with 2019 Campbelltown Vintage Classic winner Andrew Thorpe (3434) in third.
In the opening eight games of qualifying, Harford got off to a slow start bowling games of 186, 191, 193 and 171 to then hit back and average 209.25 in the first block. On Sunday, Harford found his line to average 233 in the second block and move into contention.
In the senior ladies division, it was another nail biting finish with title being decided in the final game. After 15 games Mary Dodds had a narrow 26 pin lead over Christine Clark with the final game to decide the winner. With Clark having bowled 207, Dodds needed a respectable 182 to win the division. But with the pressure on Dodds managed a 165 to see Clark take the title by 16 pins. Tracey Crisp finished in third. In the opening block of qualifying Clark averaged 189 but on Sunday the Bendigo bowler averaged 198 across eight games to move up the leader board and take the honours.
The close finishes continued in the ladies grand senior division, with Sarah Knowland averaging 188 across the 16 games to narrowly edge out Janette Baker by 27 pins and to win her second Grand Senior ranked event of the year. Queenslander Jill Morris finished in third.The close finishes continued in the ladies grand senior division, with Sarah Knowland averaging 188 across the 16 games to narrowly edge out Janette Baker by 27 pins and to win her second Grand Senior ranked event of the year. Queenslander Jill Morris finished in third.
In the men’s grand senior division, Terry Wenban ensured it didn’t go down to the final game, amassing a strong lead on the final day to win the title by 165 pins and only bowling under 200 for three games across the weekend. In second place it was Jim Bakirtzidis (3373) and Kevin Webb (3355) in third.
Paul Campbell and Ralph Harford with Brendan Crisp
All the final standings can be viewed at www.tenpinresults.com.au.
Photos courtesy of Sue Raphael and ZONE BOWLING Keon Park
