2026 State Singles Champions Crowned

by bwilson

Karen Goldsworthy and Matthew Lucas have claimed Queensland’s most prestigious singles titles at the 2026 Bowls Queensland State Championships, with both champions delivering commanding performances across the championship weekend. Goldsworthy secured her breakthrough gold medal after two previous finals defeats, while Lucas claimed his maiden state singles crown in a thrilling three-shot final. Contested across Broadbeach Bowls Club and Musgrave Hill Bowls Club over 22 to 24 May, the championships showcased the depth and quality of singles bowling across Queensland, with eight finalists producing some of the competition’s most compelling matches.

Women’s Singles

Karen Goldsworthy has finally claimed the title that eluded her twice before, winning the 2026 Bowls Queensland State Championships Women’s Singles after finishing runner-up in both 2019 and 2021. Goldsworthy defeated Leeane Poulson 25-17 in Sunday’s gold medal final at Broadbeach Bowls Club, securing Queensland’s most prestigious women’s singles crown.

The three-time finalist’s resilience paid off as she navigated a demanding finals series that tested her consistency across multiple rounds. Having previously fallen short against Chloe Stewart in 2019 and Bolivia Millerick in 2021, Goldsworthy’s breakthrough win marks a significant moment in her bowls career and caps a stellar performance across the championship weekend. The eight-shot margin in the final was decisive without being dominant, reflecting the calibre of opposition and the intensity of competition at this level of women’s bowling.

Goldsworthy’s path to gold demonstrated her ability to maintain focus and execution under pressure at every stage. She moved through the early rounds with conviction, defeating Eileen Swanson 21-13 in the Round of 32 before a commanding 21-7 victory over Debbie Logan in the Round of 16. Her quarter-final win over Logan Hughes 21-8 was equally composed, and her semi-final encounter with Chloe Stewart, while closer, saw her experience prove the difference as she progressed 25-18 to set up the title decider.

Leeane Poulson brought genuine threat to the final, demonstrating why she belongs among Queensland’s elite singles players. Her early campaign was consistent and purposeful, advancing through the Round of 32 with a 21-12 victory over Kerry Lawrence before defeating Narelle Gunders 21-14 in the Round of 16. Her quarter-final performance against Bolivia Millerick proved one of the round’s most compelling matches, recording a narrow 21-19 victory that demonstrated her ability to close out tight situations. She then produced one of the championship’s most impressive results by upsetting Olivia Bloomfield 25-24 in a breathtaking semi-final, a one-shot contest that showcased her composure under pressure and suggested she would be dangerous in the final.

Chloe Stewart rounded out the medals with a bronze medal victory, defeating Olivia Bloomfield 25-16 in the playoff at Broadbeach Bowls Club. Her ability to recover from a semi-final loss and produce a dominant bronze medal performance demonstrated her quality and mental resilience throughout the championship. Stewart’s campaign was one of the tournament’s most consistent, advancing through the Round of 32 with a 21-10 victory over Tara Ferrier before defeating Emma Spicer 21-18 in a Round of 16 match that required genuine composure in the closing stages. Her quarter-final win over Serena Bonnell 21-14 was controlled and efficient, and her bronze medal finish reinforces her status as one of Queensland’s premier singles players.

Olivia Bloomfield’s tournament run was one of the championship’s most impressive. She advanced through the field with dominant victories, including a 21-3 win over Brenda Thompson in the Round of 32 and a 21-9 victory over Wendy Clarke in the Round of 16. Her quarter-final win over Lilly Vardy 21-19 was closely contested before her near-perfect semi-final performance against Poulson ultimately fell one shot short at 24-25. Despite missing out on a medal, Bloomfield’s performances throughout the weekend confirmed her standing as one of Queensland’s best.

Lilly Vardy opened the tournament strongly, advancing with a 21-13 Round of 32 victory over Christine McGuire before defeating Kim Jackson 21-15 in the Round of 16. Her quarter-final loss to Bloomfield 19-21 was tight and competitive throughout, reflecting the quality of the field as it narrowed towards the medal matches. Bolivia Millerick also produced strong early form, defeating Frances Craig 21-12 in the Round of 32 and Joanne Watts 21-14 in the Round of 16 before her narrow quarter-final defeat to Poulson. Serena Bonnell and Narelle Gunders both recorded solid results in the early stages, contributing to what was a highly competitive field from the opening round.

Gold: Karen Goldsworthy 25, Leeane Poulson 17
Bronze: Chloe Stewart 25, Olivia Bloomfield 16

Men’s Singles

Matthew Lucas has won his first state singles championship, defeating Kane Nelson 25-22 in a tense gold medal final at Musgrave Hill Bowls Club on Sunday. The victory caps a dominant run through the championship’s demanding bracket and signals Lucas as a genuine force in Queensland men’s singles bowls. The three-shot margin in a keenly contested final reflected the quality of both players and the intensity of competition at the championship’s highest level.

Lucas’s path to gold was built on consistent and clinical bowling across every stage of the draw. He opened in the Round of 64 with a 21-16 victory over Nathan Heap before defeating Stephen Brien 21-10 in the Round of 32. His Round of 16 performance saw him overcome Dale McWhinney-Shillington 21-14 before producing arguably his most significant result of the tournament in the quarter-finals, defeating Brendan Wilson 21-19 in a tightly fought contest. Wilson, who claimed the state singles title in 2024, brought considerable pedigree to that match, making Lucas’s quarter-final victory all the more significant. His semi-final performance against Mark Armstrong was emphatic, winning 25-16 to book his place in the gold medal final.

Kane Nelson came into the final as a formidable opponent, having rebuilt momentum through the week after slow starts in earlier rounds. Last year’s finalist, Nelson demonstrated his capacity to elevate his game when it mattered most, producing a string of increasingly impressive performances as the championship progressed. His campaign began in the Post Sectional round where he defeated Luke Turner 21-14 before advancing through the Round of 64 with a 21-13 victory over Flynn O’Shaughnessy. His Round of 32 win over Gary Law 21-13 was followed by a dominant 21-2 victory over Glen King in the Round of 16, one of the round’s most commanding scorelines. His quarter-final victory over Matthew John Sargeant 21-9 was equally decisive, and his semi-final win over Jason Heath 25-17 confirmed him as a genuine contender for the title. His three-shot loss in the final represents a second consecutive year falling just short of the ultimate prize.

Mark Armstrong secured the bronze medal with a 25-21 victory over Jason Heath in the playoff, reflecting a consistent and impressive tournament from the veteran bowler. Armstrong’s path through the draw was methodical and composed, opening the Round of 64 with a 21-19 victory over Xavier Parkinson before defeating Stephen Graf 21-16 in the Round of 32. His Round of 16 win over Michael Burgess 21-17 was controlled before his quarter-final victory over Ronald Weatherby 21-19 set up a semi-final meeting with Lucas. Despite his 25-16 semi-final defeat, Armstrong’s bronze medal performance demonstrated he remains a genuine contender at championship level.

Jason Heath reached the semi-finals after a series of strong performances throughout the championship. He advanced through the Round of 64 with a tight 21-20 victory over Stephen Costabeber before defeating David Currie 21-4 in the Round of 32. His Round of 16 win over Damien Delgado 21-19 was closely fought before a thrilling 21-20 quarter-final victory over Mitchell Mears confirmed his semi-final place. His four-shot loss to Armstrong in the bronze playoff highlighted the calibre of bowling in the latter stages of the draw.

The Round of 32 produced one of the tournament’s standout moments when 2024 champion Brendan Wilson faced 2021 champion Chris Rosanes. Wilson prevailed 21-18 in a compelling contest between past titleholders, advancing before eventually meeting Lucas in the quarter-finals. Nelson’s ability to recover from slow starts and build momentum as the championship progressed was one of the tournament’s defining storylines, with his increasingly dominant scorelines through the knockout stages reflecting a player growing in confidence with each round. Matthew John Sargeant, Ronald Weatherby, Mitchell Mears, and Glen King all impressed across the early knockout stages, each recording multiple wins before meeting the eventual medallists.

Gold: Matthew Lucas 25, Kane Nelson 22
Bronze: Mark Armstrong 25, Jason Heath 21

The 2026 Bowls Queensland State Championships Women’s and Men’s Singles were proudly hosted by Club Musgrave and generously supported by Experience Gold Coast. Their commitment to delivering a world-class championship experience ensured competitors and spectators experienced the best of Queensland bowls across a memorable three-day championship.