2023 Australian Open – Day 4 recap
It was pairs that took centre stage on day four of the 2023 Australian Open as the women’s sectional rounds completed, while the men’s event kicked off in style across the Gold Coast.
Ten-time tournament champions Lynsey Clarke and Kelsey Cottrell were in a rampant mood, claiming their three victories with a whopping shot difference of 73.
Despite tying their opening match, Commonwealth Games winning duo Ellen Ryan and Kristina Krstic concluded the day strongly by winning their final two matches of the afternoon, as did the Right at Home Jackaroo pairing of Jamie-Lee Worsnop and Dawn Hayman.
The Pathway and Emerging Jackaroo team of Sophie Kurzman and Kate Argent Bowden took their section with three wins and shot difference of plus 36, while their fours teammates of Grace Moloney and Rebekah Lord progressed with an unblemished day.
In a pair of world champions, Carmen Anderson and Ellen Falkner enjoyed an unbesmirched afternoon while
The biggest shocks of the day in the women’s pairs saw Canada’s Kelly McErihen and her partner Leeane Chinery finish third in their section with one win and two losses, while Jessie Cottell and her partner Stephanie Holtz missed out after a loss to Worsnop and Hayman.
DAY FOUR SECTION WINNERS AND NEXT BEST QUALIFIERS
A shock headlined the men’s pairs event on the discipline’s opening day as 2021 winners Matt Johnstone and Jackaroo Cody Packer missed out on the knockout stage with only a draw to show for their efforts.
Defending champions in Ben Twist and Aaron Wilson have emerged from their group with a perfect record, which was the same as last year’s runner-ups in Ben Winther and Brett Spurr.
Current Australian international Matt Lucas and former Jackaroo Nathan Rice emerged victorious from their pool, while high profile Queensland brothers in Kane and Jacob Nelson completed their day with three wins and a shot differential of 53.
It was an abundantly successful day for Barrie Lester and Corey Wedlock at Mermaid Beach, comfortably ensuring their path into the knockout rounds, while Jesse Noronha and his partner Matt Miles will be on their way out of the group.
Pathway Jackaroo Cody Gerick will feature in the next round after winning through with his brother Riley, while the all star team of Gary Kelly and Dave Ferguson enjoyed their own undefeated afternoon.
Former Australian fours champion Paul Sinden has emerged from his group with partner Cameron Green, while Para Jackaroo Jake Fehlberg and his brother Cody will miss out on progression.
Another shock occurred as 2019 champion Ray Pearse and his teammate David Axon missed out on a next best qualifier slot despite there still being a day to play in the sectional rounds.
Tony Bonnell and Josh Barry made it through their pool, as did five-time Australian Open champion Nathan Pedersen and his teammate Nathan Black.
Prominent Queenslanders and former national champions in Sean Ingham and Sean Baker ensured their stay in the tournament would continue, as did Pathways Jackaroo Jake Rynne and his partner Tyler Pettigrew.
Ali Forsyth and Roger Scott have seen their way through, as have Jarryd Davies and Blake Nairn.
Finally, Emerging Jackaroo Nick Cahill and Scott de Jongh booked passage as did Dale McWhinney Shillington and Dean McWhinney, while the likes of Isaaac Maughan and Ryan Burnett progressed with their respective partners.
The 2023 Australian Open will run from the June 10-23, 2022 on the Gold Coast in Queensland with Rinkside Live coverage from 9am AEST daily (except June 16) on Bowls Australia’s Facebook page.
The Australian Open is supported by Major Events Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
