Number 1 rankings up for grabs at the World’s Biggest Bowls Festival
Year-long leaders require a huge haul from the $250,000 Australian Open to maintain their hope of finishing as the top ranked bowler at the end of the 2016/17 rankings period. Australian Jackaroos Aron Sherriff and Natasha Scott will be looking for strong showings at the upcoming Australian Open if they have any chance of recapturing their spot at the top of their respective player rankings, with the 2016/17 rankings period closing at the conclusion of the event.
After holding down the number one spot for the majority of the 2016/17 rankings period courtesy of a prolific event last year, the nature of the rolling rankings system means that Sherriff’s haul of 141 points captured at the 2016 Australian Open will lapse at the beginning of this year’s event.
Ranking points are valid for 12 months, and lapse at the beginning of the same event the following year (or in 12 months time), meaning massive changes in both the men’s and women’s leaderboards. The number 1 ranked player in both Men’s and Women’s leaderboards at the conclusion of the 2016/17 period will receive a handy $3,000 prize purse.
For Scott, her prolific partnership with Victoria’s Carla Krizanic has a downside with the two to play pairs and fours together at the Australian Open, decreasing Scott’s chances of catching her rival and friend. Scott must perform exceptionally in the Women’s Singles to leapfrog Krizanic, with the 120 points she earned by winning the Women’s Singles in 2016 lapsing and with Krizanic completing a prolific year on the local and state circuit.
Australian Development Squad member, South Australian Nathan Pedersen, is another who faces an uphill battle in retaining his current lofty standing of 4th, having finished 2nd in the Player of the Tournament standings at last year’s Australian Open, points which are about to lapse. However, having taken out three Australian Open crowns in the past two years (two Fours titles and a Pairs title in 2016 with Steven Dennis), few would be brave to bet against him on his favoured Gold Coast greens.
The top of the Men’s rankings are again lead by Victorian Barrie Lester, but now feature three Victorians in the top 4 after Garry Ball and Matthew Flapper took out the Barooga Classic Pairs in May. The Queensland state championships had a significant affect on the Women’s leaderboard in particular, with Lynsey Clarke, Chloe Stewart and Julie Keegan strong beneficiaries jumping into 6th, 11th and 14th respectively.
The current rankings standings (at the end of May) can be found below, as well as the standings at the end of May with the points from the 2016 Australian Open removed for reference.
Top ranked players by state (men):
ACT: Mac McLean (overall ranking – 25th)
NSW: Aron Sherriff (overall ranking – 6th)
NT: Trystan Smallacombe (overall ranking – 31st)
QLD: Kurt Brown (overall ranking – 9th)
SA: Nathan Pedersen (overall ranking – 4th)
TAS: Lee Schraner (overall ranking – 2nd)
VIC: Barrie Lester (overall ranking – 1st)
WA: Clive Adams (overall ranking – 30th)
Overseas: Ryan Bester (overall ranking – 8th)
Top ranked players by state (women):
ACT: Sharon Steele (overall ranking – 18t)
NSW: Natasha Scott (overall ranking – 1st)
NT: Colleen Orr (overall ranking – 10th)
QLD: Lynsey Clarke (overall ranking – 6th)
SA: Cassandra Harvey (overall ranking – 5th)
TAS: Rebecca Van Asch (overall ranking – 4th)
VIC: Carla Krizanic (overall ranking – 2nd)
WA: Helen Morss (overall ranking – 23rd)
Overseas: Kelly McKerihen (overall ranking – 3rd)
Overall Player Rankings (Men)
1st Barrie Lester (VIC): 352
2nd Lee Schraner (TAS): 315
3rd Garry Ball (VIC): 293
=4th Nathan Pedersen (SA): 285
=4th Matthew Flapper (VIC): 285
Overall Player Rankings (Women)
1st Natasha Scott (NSW): 456
2nd Carla Krizanic (VIC): 394
3rd Kelly McKerihen (Overseas, CAN): 261
4th Rebecca Van Asch (TAS): 245
5th Cassandra Harvey (SA): 180
Click here to view the full male rankings as of May 30, 2017
Click here to view the full female rankings as of May 30, 2017
Click here to view the full male rankings as of May 30, 2017 (with 2016 Australian Open points removed)
Click here to view the full female rankings as of May 30, 2017 (with 2016 Australian Open points removed)
Click here to see all upcoming rankings events
Learn more about the National Player Ranking System
