2015 Vic Medal winner Lisa Phillips
Lisa Phillips came to Shepparton expecting very little at the Victorian Open.
She didn’t feel she’d threaten. Thought she’d enter all the events, get her touch back, have fun with some friends in the triples and pairs.
What followed since day one has been a masterclass. Wins in the mixed pairs and women’s pairs finals, the tightest of runners-up placings in the women’s singles, and a semi-final appearance in the women’s triples.
Phillips was a runaway winner of the 2015 Vic Medal, polling 35 points in the award which rewards the bowler who performs best across all disciplines.
It came down to playing eight matches in the last two days for Phillips, now playing and coaching at Coatesville BC in Melbourne as she returns to the top of the sport.
She won seven of them. Only a narrow defeat in an epic women’s singles final by Carla Odgers blotted her copybook, and it didn’t really even do that – it may have just enhanced the legend.
“I was really surprised with how well I went,” Phillips said.
“The medal is just a cherry on top. I’ve had a fun tournament and this is just a bonus.”
Phillips won the mixed pairs with Nick McIntyre (Whittlesea), and the women’s pairs with Melissa Larcombe (Broadbeach BC).
And after trailing 19-15 in the women’s singles final, Phillips looked like she was going to make a clean sweep after a drive with her rival holding two shots brought her back off the canvas. Phillips grabbed back the lead 20-19 and was surging, before Odgers grabbed two on the last end to claim victory.
Phillips is back in town, and her next challenge is for her state.
Phillips has been recalled to the Victorian side to play Tasmania from December 2 to 4 at Clayton.
Phillips wins mixed pairs and women’s pairs titles
