Star rolls rising talent to claim prestige prize
In the battle between incumbent Australian representative and the next generation it was Commonwealth Games lawn bowls representative Natasha Scott who came out on top, as Tom Boswell reports for the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Scott, an Australian Jackaroos squad member, clinched the $10,000 South Tweed Sports Ladies Prestige Singles last Thursday after a composed performance against Chloe Stewart, a 19-year-old from Kyneton in Victoria.
Scott, 24, overcame the Australian A member 25-10 in the final of one of the biggest events on the lawn bowls calendar.
Tournament director Gordon Rhodes said the final showed how much depth there was in the sport.
“In the second half of the match Natasha found amazing rhythm and slowly but surely wore down Chloe,” Rhodes said.
“Everything Stewart threw at Scott was inevitably countered, and both ladies deserve credit for their performance and sportsmanship,” he said.
Scott, from Raymond Terrace in NSW, began to build her assault on the final on the third end.
She took a three-shot lead before Stewart fought back to cut the margin to just one by the eighth.
But it was to be the only real challenge Stewart provided as Scott systematically enhanced her claims for the title.
It capped off a hugely successful tournament for Scott.
She took down Australian Jackaroos captain and Helensvale star Lynsey Clark in a semi-final just hours earlier by the same score, 25-10.
Stewart defeated Sharyn Renshaw, from St Johns Park in NSW, 25-8 to book her place in the final but was unable to match her earlier feats in the decider.