Ranked Recap: 2023 Hammer QLD Senior Classic

By Tenpin Bowling Australia
January 23, 2023

The first ranked event for 2023 concluded on Sunday evening, with Dena Buxton and Andrew Drew crowned champions of the 19th running of the Hammer Queensland Senior Classic at Caboolture Bowl.

The sold-out event welcomed 108 bowlers from around the country to complete 18 games over two appearances. Four ranking divisions were in play starting on Friday night and finishing on Sunday afternoon, with male and female, senior and grand senior bowlers competing.

Following her debut in the division last year and finishing second in the rankings, at the inaugural event for 2023, Victorian Dena Buxton again showed she would be a force to be reckoned with.

At the 2023 Hammer event, Buxton led at the end of the first appearance averaging an impressive 214.8 over her first ten games before returning for her second eight games, averaging 199.25 and holding off several challengers.

Buxton would finish with a total of 3,742 over the 18 games, averaging 207.9 for the event to cement her first title for the new year.

Runner up for the female division was defending champion Sue Cassell who finished 97 pins behind (3,645) the champion. Julie Harrison would round out the podium in third place, finishing with 3,522 pins.

After finishing in 7th place in 2022, local Caboolture bowler Andrew Drew returned with a vengeance in 2023 by leading all bowlers at the end of all appearances throughout the event for the men’s division.

Averaging a jaw-dropping 235.9 over the first ten games including the event’s first and only 300 perfect game (5th game), Drew led strongly at the end of the first appearance with a total of 2,359.

The dominant bowling display continued in appearance number two on day three, with Drew averaging 210.37 over his final eight games. Averaging an incredible 224.6 for the event, Drew finished on a total pinfall of 4,042 to claim his career’s first nationally-ranked event title in the senior division.

Finishing 211 pins behind the leader as runner-up was Mick Talevski (3,831) and Tasmanian Ashley Riley rounding out the podium in third place (3,802), with defending champion Tony Hamilton finishing in fourth place.

The event also welcomed the new Grand Senior eligibility rules. To comply with international standards, participants in the division are now required to be aged 65 or over to compete.

Heather Robertson finished as the highest grand senior female bowler with a total pinfall of 3,362, which saw Robertson finish with a top 10 finish in the senior field in 9th place.

Tenpin Bowling Australia Hall of Famer Terry Wenban was the best in the male grand senior division finishing on 3,670, which was good enough for 7th in the senior field.

Next up for the Senior and Grand Senior divisions is the John Sullivan Senior Australian Open. The event will take place at Zone Bowling Frankston from 18-19 March 2023, and entries are now open. To view information for this event, please click here.

  • Total pinfall: 3,742
  • Average: 207.9
  • High Game:  235
  • Game scores (18) –
  • Appearance 1: 224, 210, 204, 206, 222, 224, 232, 235, 214, 177
  • Appearance 2: 185, 215, 170, 192, 224, 213, 211, 184
  • Total Pinfall: 4,042
  • Average: 224.6
  • High Game: 300
  • Game Scores (18):
  • Appearance 1: 279, 203, 202, 238, 300, 243, 216, 257, 204, 217
  • Appearance 2: 220, 211, 206, 220, 191, 207, 204, 224

Female Grand Senior Division Champion: Heather Robertson (Queensland)

  • Total pinfall: 3,362
  • Average: 186.8
  • High Game: 240
  • Game Scores:
  • Appearance 1: 164, 223, 152, 154, 175, 138, 188, 206, 215, 185
  • Appearance 2: 181, 154, 205, 240, 210, 149, 213, 210

Male Grand Senior Division Champion: Terry Wenban (Queensland)

  • Total Pinfall: 3, 670
  • Average: 203.9
  • High Game: 245
  • Game Scores:
  • Appearance 1: 189, 209, 220, 189, 245, 232, 190, 234, 169, 157
  • Appearance 2: 211, 233, 193, 166, 188, 213, 222, 210

Perfect Games/High Game for Event

300 Game – Andrew Drew – 5th Game in his first appearance

Top 10 Female Senior Division

  1. Dena Buxton – 3,742
  2. Sue Cassell – 3,645
  3. Julie Harrison – 3,522
  4. Madeline Fitzroy – 3, 494
  5. Christine Clark – 3,474
  6. Jo Babic – 3,461
  7. Cheryl Walduck – 3, 452
  8. Robyn Flynn – 3,384
  9. Heather Robertson – 3,362
  10. Karen Smith – 3,264

Top 10 Male Senior Division

  1. Andrew Drew – 4,042
  2. Mick Talevski – 3,831
  3. Ashley Riley – 3,802
  4. Tony Hamilton – 3,798
  5. Brett Smith – 3,707
  6. Carl Bottomley – 3,690
  7. Terry Wenban – 3,670
  8. Colin Ruffy – 3,649
  9. Lawrie Hill – 3,642
  10. Warren Stewart – 3,624

Top 5 Female Grand Senior Division

  1. Heather Robertson – 3,362
  2. Jill Morris – 2,913
  3. Cherylynn Cowan – 2,869
  4. Vivienne Bissell – 2,815
  5. Kaye Talbot – 2,723

Top 5 Male Grand Senior Division

  1. Terry Wenban – 3,670
  2. Lawrie Hill – 3,642
  3. David Farquharson – 3,573
  4. Darrell Holt – 3,383
  5. Rob McGrath – 3,378

The entire final results can be found on TenpinResults by clicking here

The National Rankings for the senior and grand senior male and females will be updated shortly and be available to view on this page.

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