Club bowlers enthusiastic about the Australian Open
We would be hard pressed finding two more enthusiastic club bowlers ready to sink their teeth into the $250,000 Australian Open playing among the world’s best bowlers. The Australian Open will have the privilege of hosting hundreds of everyday club bowlers in this year’s field due to their never die wondering attitude towards mixing it with the best of the best in our sport.
Two gentlemen, Ray Ganderton and Rob Pollock are members of the Broadbeach Bowling Club and can’t wait to sink their teeth into the world’s richest bowls event when they line up alongside two other Broadbeach members in the men’s fours competition.
Fifth grade pennant players respectively, Ganderton and Pollock saw the Australian Open was open to any bowler of any ability and didn’t hesitate to form a team to enter a world class tournament and gain some experience in a sport they can’t get enough of.
Pollock already has many a story to share about his 2015 Australian Open experience that saw him pitted against Australian great Kelvin Kerkow, current Australian Jackaroo Ray Pearse and a Malaysian combination in the men’s pair’s; whilst his team mate Ray is looking forward to his first Australian Open this year.
Neither player is worried about the draw, big names in the field and potential outcomes, both are just thrilled to have the opportunity to say “I’ve played in the Australian Open”.
“I’m really not too worried about who we get drawn against, although it would be nice to have some quality bowlers around to watch how they play and see that kind of calibre bowler in action,” said Pollock.
“The opportunity to play against Olympic or World Champions is something you can only wish for in most sports.
“If you’re lucky enough to get that chance there is always a little thing inside you saying how good is this, so I will be practicing as much as possible leading into the Australian Open, not because I’m worried about scores, just because it would be nice to mix it with them and enjoy the game even more.”
Pollock joked that he would be missing the first few days of Australian Open play due to a fours tournament he has entered as practice, the tournament they are calling the Narrabri Open.
Team mate Ray Ganderton has a very similar attitude.
“I’m an inexperienced bowler so names don’t mean much to me, I’m not worried about who we might come up against I just want to enjoy it, and getting past sectional would be nice but who knows what will happen on the day,” he said.
Their passion for the sport doesn’t stop there; when the opportunity arose at Broadbeach Bowling Club to do measuring, markers and umpiring courses both Ray and Rob thought that would be a great way to give back to the sport and to get more involved in major international events that are heading the Gold Coasts’ way.
There will be many bowlers just like Broadbeach’s Ray and Rob, plenty of first time Australian Open participants, club bowlers entering to see what the big time events are all about, and who knows we could see some of these club level bowlers going all the way.
The Australian Open is just around the corner; see you all on the sunny Gold Coast.
The Queensland Government is proud to support the Australian Open through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar, showcasing Australia’s best live events in Australia’s best destinations.
