2023 Australian Open – Day 9 wrap
The blue-ribbon women’s singles discipline of the coveted Australian Open has been whittled down to just the final four contenders.
Western Australia’s Laura Butler (nee Merz) has booked a blockbuster semi-final against reigning titleholder Kelsey Cottrell, set for Wednesday from 11.45am, after cutting a swath through a first-class field today.
She opened proceedings this morning with a nail-bitting single shot victory against fellow Manning clubmate and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kristina Krstic in the round of 16, before accounting for Krstic’s Jackaroo teammate Chloe Stewart 21-16 in the quarters, and is now just one win away from a grand final berth.
Standing in Butler’s way, who is representing Switzerland at the upcoming World Bowls Championships, is Cottrell, who hunts her 11th Australian Open title, after toppling Jannah Dymnycz and Julie Brownie en route to the semis.
Featuring in the other side of the draw is Moama’s Cassandra Millerick, who upstaged St Johns Park’s Brianna Smith by 2 shots, and former England dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ellen Falkner MBE 21-5.
Clayton-based Canadian Kelly McKerihen secured the final semi spot, after edging out two-time Australian Open pairs champion Noelene Dutton by a slender shot and Forster’s Sarah Boddington by just two shots.
The title contenders will be decided at Club Helensvale on Wednesday from 11.45am.
In the men’s singles, just eight contenders remain in the mix, including two former champions.
Reigning titleholder Aron Sherriff hunts his fourth singles crown, and will face Deer Park’s Ryan Tainton in the quarter-final encounter on Wednesday from 2.30pm.
Former Australian Jackaroo Ray Pearse looms in Sherriff’s half of the draw, and will take on Algester’s Glen Pitts.
Two-time singles winner Aaron Wilson, who last saluted in 2021, also looms ominously, taking on rising star Jacob Nelson, while Figtree Sports’ Matt Miles will face Paradise Point’s Kobe Barton in that half of the draw.
The men’s and women’s multi-disability open singles and vision-impaired singles got their campaigns under way, with the pairs set to commence tomorrow.
The 2023 Australian Open will run from the June 10-23, 2022 on the Gold Coast in Queensland with Rinkside Live coverage from 9am AEST daily on Bowls Australia’s Facebook page.
The Australian Open is supported by Major Events Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
