Thulborn reigns supreme in Australian Championships
WA’s Tom Mitchell runner-up Last year’s Australian Premier League’s most valuable player has gone from strength to strength today claiming a maiden Australian Champion of Champion singles title.
South Australian ace Scott Thulborn continues to put the southern state up in lights adding to his runner-up performance with the Adelaide Endurance he now has claimed individual honours. His maiden Australian Champion of Champions title comes at a cost for Western Australian ‘up and comer’ and Perth Sun’s new recruit Thomas Mitchell, who fought gallantly in what were treacherous conditions at Taren Point Bowling Club. The final was delayed due to inclement weather and with reports of car’s floating down Taren Point Road overnight, a slight delay to the start of play was a good result for the greenkeepers who worked tirelessly to prepare the greens.
Scott Thulborn must have read the weather reports and knew more bad weather was coming, because despite losing the opening three ends of the match he won the next six to lead 7-3. Thulborn got out to a 12-5 lead and continued to jump ahead from Mitchell, extending his lead 20-10. Mitchell kept his hopes alive scoring only his second multiple of the match, a three took him to 13-20, but the very next end Thulborn finished the match scoring his required one. Thulborn joins the likes of Brett Wilkie, David Holt and Dylan Fisher on the Australian Champion of Champions honour board. Thulborn will now represent Australia at the World Champion of Champions at Club Helensvale on the Gold Coast in 2015 alongside NSW’s Katrina Wright.
The Champion of Champion singles final was a primer to what we can expect when the Perth Suns take on Adelaide Endurance in the second instalment of the APL. Thulborn took the opportunity to play with and against the best players in the world in the inaugural APL and took the event by storm claiming the title of most valuable player. Mitchell will have his chance to mix with the world’s best when he steps out for the Perth Sun’s as their new recruit. The APL is one of the biggest events on the bowl calendar boasting $110,000 prize money, second only to the $225,000 Australian Open and will be played from November 18-21 at Club Pine Rivers, and can be viewed live on Fox Sports from 5:30pm each night.
