Sherriff lays down the law
Aron Sherriff has signaled his intentions to go all the way in the coveted blue-ribbon singles field, after gunning down Alex Marshall this morning. Aron Sherriff laid down the law this morning when the $225,000 Australian Open shifted focus to the coveted blue-ribbon singles disciplines on day ten of the 13 day campaign, gunning down the best in the business.
Triple Bowls Australia International Bowler of the Year winner Sherriff took the honours from his blockbuster game of the round against the man widely regraded as the sport’s best player, Alex Marshall MBE, leading from start to finish to join the winners’ circle, 21-13.
Reigning titleholder Nathan Wilson was also among a host of heavy-hitters to advance to this afternoon’s second elimination round of the men’s event, as was his brother Aaron, who triumphed 12 months earlier in the sport’s premier national competition.
Nathan escaped with a less than convincing victory, 21-19 against Chris Rosanes, but did enough to keep his hopes of defending his crown alive, while 2013 singles winner Aaron eased his way into round two of the knockout stages with a comprehensive 21-1 win against Neil Mason.
Both will face steep opposition in their next encounters however, with Nathan pitted against former National Coach Cameron Curtis from 2.15pm at Robina, while Aaron will square off against former New Zealand Blackjack Gary Lawson at Southport this afternoon.
Australian Jackaroos vice-captain Brett Wilkie may have done all the right things on the green this morning to advance to round two, but it was his opponent, 12 year-old Marcus Simpson from the Northern Territory, who was soaking up the limelight, with Nine News Gold Coast showing more than an interest in the pint-sized prodigy.
Another blockbuster match-up across four Gold Coast clubs used to stage the men’s singles action this morning saw one-time Australian representative Sean Baker get the wood over former Australian junior world champion Dylan Fisher, 21-17.
This morning’s second session of round one, staged at 11.15am, saw some of the competition’s biggest names fall out of contention in the race to the $24,000 singles final, which will be held from 2.00pm on Thursday.
Broadbeach local Sean Igham, earmarked as a potential future Australian senior representative, was bundled out of the action, former Australian vice-captain Wayne Turley also had his hopes dashed, South Australian State Representative of the Year Max Klinig dropped his elimination rubber, but one of the biggest casualties was Commonwealth Games medallist Nathan Rice.
A tantalising match-up in the second round will see Australian Jackaroo Matthew Flapper and ACT-turned-NSW representative Andrew Howie, who was part of the Blues best performed rink at the recent Australian Sides Championships on debut, go head-to-head at Broadbeach from 2.15pm.
