Bester is in the box seat, Krizanic and Featherby hard to split
Ryan Bester is a game clear on the leaderboard going into the final day, while Carla Krizanic and Lisa Featherby are all tied up on the ledger at the Australian Champion of Champions. Ryan Bester’s Australian Champion of Champions campaign has gained significant momentum, with the Canadian international now a clear frontrunner to swoop tomorrow’s title.
Bester has his sight firmly set on the silverware after a further two wins on the penultimate day of the event, and is now the outright leader on matches won.
The dual Commonwealth Games singles silver medallist, who represents Queensland’s Broadbeach Bowls Club, made amends for yesterday’s third round falter, where he was overcome by South Australia’s Ashley Halls, with a sublime performance against Australian Jackaroo Aaron Teys, who many pundits had installed as pre-tournament favourite.
The state of origin clash lived up to the hype, with Bester securing the result by a slender two shots against the formidable Teys, who claimed the Australian Open men’s singles title against Bester in 2015.
Bester than withstood the attack of the only other competitor on equal standings, Western Australia’s Pieter Harris, who was also on three wins, by the same 2 shot margin he won the round prior, to prove beyond doubt that he is the man to beat in this competition.
With a game clear of the field, Bester is in the box seat to add another national title to his resume, but must still overcome both remaining opponents, Tasmania’s Jarrod Long and ACT’s Mark Dulihanty, in his final two encounters tomorrow to assure himself the crown without a count-back.
There’s a log-jam of contenders waiting in the wings for Bester to come unstuck on the final hurdle, with Teys in second position, Halls trailing in third by 1 shot difference and Victoria’s Paul Twyerould only 4 shots further behind that.
In the women’s event, Victoria’s Australian Jackaroo Carla Krizanic and Western Australia’s Lisa Featherby cannot be split for the top of table placings; equal on wins, shots for, shots against and shot difference.
Krizanic found herself well down in her third round encounter this afternoon, trailing South Australia’s Renata Callisto 1-11, but pulled more than a few tricks out of the sleeve to triumph 21-12, keeping her hopes alive in the event.
Meanwhile, Featherby notched up her third victory against Queensland’s Ester Regan 21-15.
Just one player will be left with an unblemished record from tomorrow morning though, when the pair clash in a blockbuster encounter from 9.00am.
With the women’s event only featuring five rounds, the winner of tomorrow’s encounter is likely to hold the trophy aloft.
Click here for the full results and ladder from the 2016 Australian Champion of Champions at Keilor Bowls Club.
