Murphy shoots for six at Tweed
Murphy is shooting for sixth crowns at Tweed Heads this week Reigning world singles champion and world number two Karen Murphy will head to Tweed Heads Bowls Club today in pursuit of an unprecedented sixth Australian Indoor title in just seven years.
Murphy, who captured the coveted world singles title in Adelaide last December, is at home on the indoor rink at Tweed Heads having won the title three years straight from 2007-09 and then consecutive wins again in the past two years in 2011 and 2012.
Murphy’s Australian Jackaroos teammate Mark Casey also heads back to Tweed Heads to defend his 2012 title that he won over local and Tweed Head Bowls Club bowls coordinator, Paul Girdler.
Standing in the way of the world number two’s sixth success is her 2013 Australian Open nemesis, Victoria’s Lisa Phillips.
Phillips, still only 20 years of age, is a two-time Australian Open champion (2011 and 2013) and defeated her much more experienced opponent Murphy in this year’s outdoor final and in doing so earned automatic entry into this year’s indoor event.
Murphy’s opening round against Kim Saunders is scheduled for 4.00pm on Monday while Phillips will commence her campaign against Jamie-Lee Worsnop at 2.00pm the same day.
As the number one and number two seeds in the event, Murphy and Phillips are expected to make it to Thursday’s crowd pleasing women’s final but a wildcard in the draw comes in the form of another Victorian, 4th seed Lalor’s Carla Odgers.
Odgers, 23, was a recent selection in the Jackaroos team to tour the UK in August which includes the 8-nations event at the Kelvingrove Bowls Club, the host venue of next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Casey will attempt to defend his title in a star studded field comprising of ACT’s Andrew Howie, veteran Australian representative Brett Wilkie, Scottish World Champion Graeme Archer and last year’s runner-up Girdler.
Like Phillips, 21-year-old Aaron Wilson from Brighton in Victoria also earned automatic entry into the Australian Indoors draw courtesy of his brilliant singles win in February’s Australian Open at Darebin.
The action gets underway at 8.00am on Monday and concludes with three matches on Thursday including both the men’s and women’s finals.
Entry to Tweed Heads is free and all on the action on Wednesday and Thursday next week will be streamed live and free at www.bowlsaustralia.com.au.
