Wilkie stamps himself a favourite

Brett Wilkie has stamped himself as one of the favourites for the men's singles crown with a commanding victory over NSW’s Paul Butler on the first day of the Australian Open which saw him take out the first set 11-2.

In a tight first end the bowlers landed seven of eight bowls within striking distance of the jack, with Wilkie narrowly launching his open campaign with the first two shots of the match.

Butler pushed the popular Helensvale player in the second but it was once again Wilkie holding shot - adding another two to his tally with a measurement narrowly denying him a third and what would have been a near insurmountable lead early in the first set.

Victoria Park’s Butler was close in the third but was desperately unlucky to concede another shot to Wilkie by a matter of inches.

Butler's bad luck continued in the sixth when his last bowl narrowly slid past the jack and left Wilkie with a four shot end that took his advantage to 11 before finally conceding his first two shots in the seventh.

Needing a win to force the match to a decided Butler began the second set much as he had the first, going close only for Wilkie to find a way to go even closer on his way to a two shot end.

The bowlers traded blows throughout the set, but more often than not it was the delicate Wilkie touch that saw him come out in front to win 8-4.

Click here for full results from the 2012 Australian Open.