Teys suffers rude welcoming at Australian Champion of Champion
The Australian Champion of Champions event at Keilor has commenced with a bang, with one of the pre-tournament favourites suffering an opening round blow to his campaign. An opening round boil-over has occurred at the Australian Champion of Champions at Keilor Bowls Club this morning.
Highly-fancied combatant Aaron Teys suffered a massive blow to his campaign by Western Australia’s Pieter Harris in the opening round, which now leaves him with little room to manoeuvre in the best-of-seven-round competition.
Harris, who will line-up for a maiden Bowls Premier League appearance in the Perth Suns’ colours next month, prevailed 21-16 to claim the prized scalp in 23 ends.
With just seven matches and no finals, even a single loss can have severe consequences for the eight male hopefuls, but the 2015 Australian Open singles winner shouldn’t be ruled out of the contest just yet.
Broadbeach’s Canadian international, Ryan Bester, doesn’t have to concern himself with that thought just yet, having commenced his campaign in spectacular fashion this morning.
Bester, who is gunning for his maiden title in the event, required just 73 minutes to post his first victory in the best-of-seven-matches encounter to be staged over the next three days.
The dual Australian number one male bowler, as determined by the annual National Ranking Points, was quick out of the blocks with 6 shots over the opening two ends against host-state Victorian hopeful Paul Twyerould, from Rosebud, before recording a 21-14 first rubber win.
Joining Harris and Bester in the winners’ circle was Tasmania’s Jarrod Long, who edged out ACT’s Mark Dulihanty 21-11, and the Northern Territory’s Brett Irvine, who produced a scintillating 21-16 first-round win against South Australia’s Ashley Halls.
The second round sees Harris (WA) face Dulihanty (ACT), Teys (NSW) encounter Long (TAS), Twyerould (VIC) lock horns with Halls (SA) and Bester (QLD) square off against Irvine (NT)
With just six female participants, given Tasmania’s and ACT’s qualifiers electing not to attend, the female event features just five matches in the round-robbin style competition, with their one and only opening day match scheduled to be staged from 12.00pm.
In their first rubber, Carla Krizanic (VIC) versus Ester Regan (QLD), Val Smith (NSW) plays Renata Callisto (SA), and Lisa Featherby (WA) battles Bronwyn Chandler (NT).
Click here to view the 2016 Australian Champion of Champion page, which features full results and draw details.
