Odgers wins as Vics shine at Open
Sunbury’s Carla Odgers has shared in a $20,000 winner’s cheque as part of a nailbiting women’s fours title win at the Australian Open on the Gold Coast.
Odgers teamed with NSW South Coast twins Samantha and Natalie Noronha and another NSW player, Natasha Scott, to beat Jan Agar, Sue Auman, Sharyn Renshaw and Beth Quinlan 15-14 in an epic final.
Scores were tied five times in the match – Odgers levelling things up again in the last end.
Enter Scott – who handled the crushing pressure brilliantly and delivered her last bowl perfectly to give her team victory.
Two Victorians made the last eight in the Australian Open singles competition before bowing out in quarter-finals.
Mulgrave Country Club’s Barrie Lester had a superb march through the tournament before losing 21-10 to Mark Casey in their men’s singles quarter-final.
And youngster Tiff Brodie (Fitzroy Victoria) claimed the scalp of fours winner Scott in the round of 16, coming back from an eight-shot deficit early to win.
But West Australian Noelene Abe ended 17-year-old Brodie’s dream run in a tough quarter-final.
Altona’s Dane McKinnon marched through to the last 16 of the men’s singles before bowing out, while Werribee’s Jayden Christie also performed well before a tough round of 16 match against Canada’s Commonwealth Games silver medallist Ryan Bester ended his tournament.
Julie Ross (Golden Square) also made the women’s last 16, before succumbing to eventual finalist Ellen Ryan, of NSW.
