AO Gold for Hastings
Australian Open Wrap Nearly 100 WA bowlers made the long trip to the Gold Coast to play in Australia’s largest prize money event the $250,000 Australian Open and take on the best bowlers not just in Australia but the world.
The WA players more than held there own in competition across the 14 events of various ages and gender on the Gold Coast.
The standout performers were Therese Hastings and Kristina Krstic of Manning who both made it to the finals. Therese Hastings who is the National Training Centre Coach for WA teamed with fellow NTC Coach South Australia’s Faye Luke to win the Women’s Over 60’s Pairs and collect $2,500 each. The pairing who have developed a strong friendship through their coaching roles looked in trouble at 5-12 however some big ends which included a 5 to move them 17-13 in front got them home 18-15.
Australian representative Kristina Krstic had a very good tournament and made the last 16 in all three events. Krstic has previously made finals at the Australian Open and is now a regular performer at national level. She defeated some quality opposition in the Women’s Singles before losing at the hands of Malaysian International Siti Zalina Ahmad whilst in the Pairs with Victorian partner Kylie Whitehead they made it a step further before losing in the quarter finals to the NSW Pair of Ellen Ryan and Julie Keegan. In the Women’s Fours her side made the final and performed very well despite losing. Krstic played third with Whitehead (Vict), Tayla Spence (Vict) and Samantha Shanahan (NSW) defeated in a close contest 16-13. Krstic picked up $2,200 in prizemoney for her efforts.
Further finals will be televised live on Foxsports tomorrow from 9am WA Time.
WA players who finished with prize money
Men’s Singles
Last 128: Scott Walker (South Perth), Robert Bowron (Eaton)
Last 64: Lewis Grigg (Osborne Park)
Women’s Singles
Last 64: Kathy Gobbart (Sorrento), Hailey Adams (Osborne Park), Shenayde Heldt (Manning)
Last 16: Kristina Krstic (Manning)
Men’s Pairs
Last 16: Cody Packer (Bedford) & Charlie Slavich (Doubleview)
Women’s Pairs
Quarter Final: K. Whitehead (Vict) & Krstina Krstic (Manning)
Women’s Fours
Runner-Up: K. Whitehead (VIC), T. Spence (VIC), Kristina Krstic (Manning), S. Shannahan (NSW)
Men’s Over 60’s Pairs
Last 32: Gordon King (Osborne Park) & Graham Evans (Busselton), Grant Nicol (Osborne Park) & Steve O’Neill (Osborne Park)
Last 16: Ian Hastings (Kardinya) & Anthony Cocodis (Kardinya)
Women’s Over 60’s Pairs
Last 16: Elizabeth Marshall (Sorrento) & Jan Cook (Sorrento), Pauline Bourne (Sorrento) & Nerrida Porteous (Sorrento)
Winner: F. Luke (SA) & Therese Hastings (Manning)
Special mention to Jospeh Lehane from Gosnells Bowling Club who finish 3rd in the Men’s Intellectual Disability Singles.
Congratulations to all the participants who represented WA, and their respective clubs, with distinction in this event and well done to those who received prize money.
Further details on this event can be found at http://www.australianopen.bowlsaustralia.com.au/
