Battle of the giants
Australian Jackaroos and international superstars are positioned well after two rounds of sectional play in the Australian Open women’s singles. In a battle of the giants, Siti Zalina Ahmad of Malaysia reigned supreme over the current Commonwealth Games singles gold medallist Jo Edwards in their second round encounter today at Mermaid Beach.
In a match that was destined to go the distance certainly lived up to expectations when the final end of the match was played in the dying minutes of the allocated time limit.
New Zealand Blackjack Jo Edwards held a slight lead for majority of the match; however the experience of Ahmad, a dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist, was never far away and took the lead for the first time in the match 14-13.
The pair went shot for shot for the remainder of the match with neither player holding a distinct advantage until the final bowl of Edwards, who was trailing 19-20, failed to obtain the shot giving Ahmad the match right on the bell.
Ahmad has tasted success at the Australia Open before; in 2007 the Malaysian champion lifted the Australian Open singles trophy and pocketed the $18,000 in prize money.
Australian Jackaroos Carla Odgers, Samantha Shannahan and Lynsey Clarke all posted back-to-back wins in their sections at Mermaid Beach and look ominous to precede to the knockout rounds of competition.
Defending Australian Open singles champion Anne Johns received a forfeit this morning and then in what was her first match of the day, Johns was in cruise control against Jill Gaffney posting a 21-8 victory.
Current Australian development representative Dawn Hayman is breezing through her opening day of play with victories over Metua Teinaki 21-11 and Cheryl Nielsenbeck 21-13 at Broadbeach Bowling Club.
St Johns Park’s Sharyn Renshaw started her Australian Open singles campaign in style with a 21-20 victory over Australian Jackaroo Kristy Thatcher and then went on to defeat an ACT junior representative Kristen Steele 21-12 in her second match at Musgrave Hill.
Former Australian representative Maria Rigby is in a strong position after claiming a 21-7 victory over Lucy Dalli and backed that up with another win 21-17 over Nerrida Porteous.
73 sections of women’s singles will be completed today along with the remainder of the 207 men’s sections being played out at Southport and Paradise Point.
