Queenslanders shine at AUS INDOOR
Queenslanders through to Day 2 of Australian Indoor, Tweed Heads? Paul Girdler, Lynsey Clarke, Kristy Thatcher. OUT? Robbie Wild, Ken Emura, Jason Carpenter, June Beverley, Judy Whaites. Tweed Heads Paul Girdler zoomed through his first round match 11-1, 10-3 to face a second round clash against former English international David Holt from St John’s Park (only the event’s defending champion…)
Tonight Girdler is a happy man, through to the quarter finals, Holt’s back-to-back dream denied in a tie-break, 8-9, 10-7, 4-3.
NZ Blackjack Girdler’s next challenge is Victorian Jackaroo Barrie Lester, who claimed the scalp of Girdler’s Tweed Heads club mate Ken Emura in the second round today in straight sets, 9-5, 9-4, after Emura squeaked through the first round with a one-shot victory 7-6, 7-7.
Lynsey Clarke was hoping her many years of experience at high level bowls would carry her through today.
With just nine weeks to go in her first pregnancy, she hasn’t been training as much as usual, and her first round clash was against a fellow Queenslander, June Beverley from Coolangatta, both disappointed only one of them would make it through.
Lynsey won 9-4, 13-0.
She faces Linda Warburton in her second round clash tomorrow, the West Australian spared a first round encounter due to the late withdrawal of Helensvale’s Charlie Harkness (due to a new full time job).
Another Tweed Heads worker bee Kristy Thatcher also made it through on the Queensland tally.
Kristy worked on the Indoor all morning, slipping off only around noon for a quick break before her 2pm first round game, which she won convincingly against Taren Point’s Claire Kelly 12-8, 11-3.
Thatcher will play West Australian Noelene Abe in tomorrow’s second round clash, Noelene winning her first round clash in a tie-break.
Unlucky to be going home are Pine Rivers Robbie Wild, on the wrong side of a tie break against WA’s Tom Mitchell, who had a blinder, 2-11, 7-4, 4-3.
(Queensland will get to see Robbie Wild and Tom Mitchell go head-to-head again at APL in November. Mitchell will play for Solargain Perth Suns, Wild is manager and reserve for Brisbane XXXX Gold on his home turn of Club Pine Rivers.)
Kawana’s Judy Whaites is another Queenslander unlucky to be going home, losing her first round match at 6pm tonight in a a tense tie-break, 12-7, 3-11, 3-2 against young 2015 Australian Open singles champion Ellen Ryan.
Helensvale’s Jason Carpenter was unlucky against NSW powerhouse Lee Stinson from Orange, who won 13-3, 8-4.
Women’s defending champion Jamie Lee Worsnop is still in the field.
She will play Indoor queen Karen Murphy in tomorrow’s second round clash.
Both won today’s first rounds in straight sets.
The Australian Indoor runs for four days, Mon Aug 24 – Thurs Aug 27.
Wednesday and Thursday’s semis and finals will be streamed LIVE on BA.