Master versus apprentice semi-final showdown
Masters and apprentices, former champions, local heroes and young-guns make up the list of men’s and women’s singles semi-finalists. It will be a case of a master versus apprentice and two former champions going head-to-head in the blockbuster blue-ribbon men’s singles semi-final contests at the Australian Open on Thursday
National Coach Steve Glasson, who oversees the sport’s high-performance program, will face the National Training Centre Coach for Queensland Brett Wilkie, who is charged with developing the state’s future international combatants, in the semis of the sport’s most coveted title.
Glasson, who is the only semi-finalist yet to win the trophy, earned a berth in tomorrow’s match with a decisive 21-15 victory over Broadbeach’s Sean Ingham, who is part of Wilkie’s NTC squad.
Jackaroos vice-captain Wilkie, who claimed the singles silverware in 2009, cemented his spot in the pointy end of the competition with a 21-14 win over former world number one Safuan Said tonight at Broadbeach in front of a capacity crowd.
In the opposite side of the draw, 2010 winner Aron Sherriff and 2013 champion Aaron Wilson are set for a herculean hit-out to book the other position in the $19,500 final, which will see the winner awarded a $13,000 prize cheque.
Wilkie’s Club Helensvale teammate, Australian Jackaroos captain Lynsey Clarke also has her sights locked on yet another Australian Open title, which would be her seventh across all disciplines.
Reigning dual Australian Open pairs champions Emma Brown was on the receiving end of the ledger, 13-21.
Australia’s female bowler of the year, Natasha Scott, looks destined to go back-to-back in the coveted award, after booking a spot in the singles semis, as well as the quarter-finals of the pairs and the semis of the fours.
The Jackaroos and world champion teammates will square off in the women’s singles semi-final on Wednesday.
In the other half of the draw, Raymond Terrace’s Molly Wilton, 17, is through to the open semis, despite still being eligible and alive in the under-18 competition.
Wilton eliminated 2007 singles winner Julie Keegan 21-15, and will now face Broadbeach’s Dee-Anne Robertson, who knocked off Brown’s pairs winning teammate Dutton 21-20.
The men’s and women’s singles semi-finals will be staged at Broadbeach.
