Hong Kong Classic celebrations
Young guns Nathan Pedersen and Corey Wedlock claimed gold in the Hong Kong International whilst Kristina Krstic made her Australian debut and Australia’s most capped international bowler Karen Murphy played her 500th game for Australia. Our Australian contingent have returned from the Hong Kong International with a boast of achievements to celebrate after a highly successful and memorable event for all four competitors involved.
Stars in the making, 21 year old Nathan Pedersen and 19 year old Corey Wedlock showed bowls in Australia is in great hands having notched up the first of what is likely to be many international gold medals for the pair in their maiden appearance representing the Australian High Performance Team.
South Australia’s Nathan Pedersen earned a ticket to Hong Kong due to his outstanding performance at the 2015 Australian Open that saw him claim honours in the Australian Open Fours team alongside fellow South Australian’s, whilst Cabramatta’s Corey Wedlock spent most of last year at the top end of the Aero Bowls National Rankings and has been showing his wares with victories in prestigious tournaments around the country.
Pedersen and Wedlock have made a bold statement on the international scene having taken out the Hong Kong International Pairs final against the much more fancied and experienced combination of Commonwealth Games gold medallist Robert Weale and Welsh international skipper Mark Wyatt; both long serving members of the Welsh International Squad and highly credentialed world class players.
After a downpoor of rain that saw the remaining ends of the women’s final moved indoors, Pederson and Wedlock were on song from end one on the nearby indoor surface and made an absolute dream start to their final claiming the first set 13-1.
Australia’s lead, Nathan Pedersen continued to get the Australians off to a good start but it was 19 year old Corey Wedlock who shined in the final set to stun his more experienced opposition and take the match in straight sets.
The Australian women’s combination of Kristina Krstic and Karen Murphy were narrowly defeated in the women’s final against the enthusiastic Hong Kong Youth Development Team of Amy Choi and Vivian Yip; the change from a slow outdoor surface to the nearby indoor green was an added challenge for all involved.
After six ends of the second set, the Australians had fought their way back into the match, having lost the first set Krstic and Murphy had found their range in the second and was leading 8-4; however the heavens opened up and with the green deemed unplayable it was an untimely move to the indoor surface for the Australians.
Australia claimed the second set and forced the final into a three end tie-break; at one a piece Hong Kong’s skip Vivian Yip did what she had done most of the game and went on the attack, driving the jack into the ditch and holding the match for Hong Kong.
Murphy went agonisingly close to drawing the shot to the ditch, but the Australian’s had to settle for a silver in what was an entertaining and drama filled final!
Earlier in the tournament Australia’s most capped international bowler Karen Murphy celebrated the most wonderful of milestones; Murphy lined up alongside Australian debutant Kristina Krstic in her 500th match for Australia.
Krstic was the best performed of the Australians in the two day singles tournament that kicks off the Hong Kong Classic and can certainly be proud of her international debut, having secured silver alongside her idol Karen Murphy.
There is no time for Murphy to relax upon her return to Australian soil; the Australian Asia Pacific Championships team of which Murphy will play the coveted singles role and skip the women’s pairs, depart for New Zealand tomorrow, November 18.
The Asia Pacific Championships kick off on November 24; whilst we are also currently cheering on the Australian contingent of Katrina Wright and Scott Thulborn in the World Champion of Champions at Club Helensvale with the pair into the second day of competition.
Bowls Australia would like to acknowledge the assistance and funding provided by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to Bowls Australia for athletes in the “Gold Coast GOLD” 2018 program and 2015-18 NextGEN AUSComGames Squad program.
The Gold Coast GOLD program was devised by the ACGA to maximise podium performances at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and assist athletes who are expected to be nominated for selection to the 2018 Australian Team.
NextGEN AUSComGames was devised by the ACGA to provide assistance to junior players who have been identified as potential 2015 or 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, and/or 2018 or 2022 Commonwealth Games level athletes.
