Australian Open 2023 – what made it wonderful?
Another Australian Open is done and dusted, and boy was it phenomenal.
Bowls fans were dazzled to some of the most extraordinary matches across the fortnight in addition to a plethora of players achieving remarkable results throughout the event.
Let’s dive in to why this Australian Open was one of the best yet.
Sherriff remains in power
It was almost the perfect tournament for Aron Sherriff, who was a piece of Aaron Wilson brilliance away from completing a Grand Slam at the AO.
The 37-year-old claimed the singles title for a record extending fifth time, becoming the first male to defend his crown and the first bowler to achieve the feat in consecutive years.
On top of that, Sherriff clinched his maiden fours title at the tournament following a classic encounter that saw he and his rink of Aaron Teys, Barrie Lester and Corey Wedlock overcome Brendan Wilson, Clinton Bailey, Scott de Jongh and Nick Cahill by a single shot in one of the best contests of the whole event.
The Broadbeach member was one end away from pairs victory as well, with he and Teys leading by two shots with just one end remaining before Wilson struck gold in the final end to guide himself and Ben Twist to a second successive crown.
Despite being ever so close to the elusive triple, Sherriff capped off a sensational event with the title of Player of the Tournament after one of the most dominant displays in Australian Open history.
It is his second accolade, joining Kelsey Cottrell as the only bowlers to be awarded the trophy on multiple occasions.
Twisty and Disco times two
It was history for Aaron Wilson and Ben Twist as they became the first male pair to successfully defend their crown after yet another sensational final that came down to the last changeover.
After a gruelling battle against Brett Spurr and Ben Winther that saw them clinch the title in 2022, Teys and Sherriff would be their next foes in the way glory.
The New South Wales pairing led for the majority of the contest before their opponents scored a three on the penultimate end to race to a two-shot advantage with just 12 bowls left in the clash.
From there it was Wilson who turned the tables, overcoming Teys’ shot bowls and ensuring that Sherriff was unable to take the ascendancy back.
The pair joined Emma Spicer and Noelene Dutton as the only duos to go back-to-back.
Millerick lights up Broadbeach
Having moved clubs from Broadbeach to Moama, Cassandra Millerick was back to her old stomping ground as she saluted for the biggest title of her career, the blue ribboned women’s singles.
Facing off against her friend, defending champion and fellow 2021 Australian pairs conqueror Kelsey Cottrell in the decider, it was always going to be a titanic tussle.
Cottrell has been the supreme singles player over the past 15 months, winning almost every event she has taken part in, and it looked as though regular proceedings would resume as she stormed to a 7-0 lead before Millerick pegged the deficit back.
From there it was bowl for bowl, shot for shot and end for end but it was Millerick who was left with her arms in the air in one of the most wholesome celebrations the Australian Open has ever seen.
Gerick and Young show us the future
Only two bowlers had won the Under 18 singles disciplines since 2019 with no event in 2020 and Kate Argent-Bowden and Joseph Clarke winning both the girl’s and boy’s tournaments over the last two years.
With both turning 18 since last year’s edition, it was time for a change as both Riley Gerick and Reese Finn-Young grabbed their chances en route to maiden titles at the Open.
Gerick enjoyed a phenomenal final against fellow Queenslander Samuel Collier in which his forehand draw was sublime, storming out to an unassailable 16-3 lead before holding off a fast finish from his opponent to take the trophy.
Finn-Young has once again proven to be one of the most in form juniors in the country and would once again face Amity Bickley for a national title.
Just two greens away from where the pair met in last year’s Under-18 Championships final at The Nationals, the result would not change as the Right at Home Pathways Jackaroo withstood the challenge to claim yet another accolade in her already growing trophy cabinet.
Lindfield puts 2022 heartbreak behind her
After falling to Pamela Branton 19-21 in last year’s Multi Disability Women’s Singles tournament, it looked as though history might repeat itself for Para Jackaroo Cheryl Lindfield, who found herself 2-11 in arrears to her Commonwealth Games and upcoming World Bowls Championships teammate Serena Bonnell.
But the Mt Gravatt exponent fought her way back in what was to become one of the most epic clashes of the entire tournament.
Lindfield would not see the lead until the 25th end and as the three hour time limit closed, the 64-year-old finally secured the shots she needed to secure a 21-17 victory and a maiden Australian Open crown.
