2016 Victorian Open – Day 5
Two previous Victorian Open champions produced a match of high drama in the men’s singles round of 16 which will be hard to anywhere else during the 2016 Victorian Open.
Defending champion Nathan Wilson (Essendon) produced a freakish comeback to beat 2014 winner and former world No.1 Safuan Said (Malaysia/MCC Kew) and power into the quarter-finals in day five’s clear highlight at Shepparton Park Bowls club.
Wilson won 21-18 after trailing 18-8 and with his back-to-back title hopes looking grim. Instead he now marches into the quarter-finals, joining Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Matthew Flapper as safely in the final eight.
Flapper did it much more easily in his round of 16 match, beating local hope Geoff Franze (East Shepparton) 21-7 in an irresistible display of quality bowls.
He had earlier beaten Steve Harry (Wenty Leagues) in the round of 32.
Three great round of 16 matches were played on adjoining rinks undercover at Shepparton Park. As Flapper zipped through his match and Wilson and Said had a tug-of-war, Nick McIntyre (Whittlesea) managed a one-shot win over fellow State player Dane McKinnon (Altona) in a tense encounter – leaving spectators not knowing where to look.
In other round of 16 matches, Wunghnu’s Gary Downie won the battle of the locals 21-16 over Kyabram’s Russell Locke, while Lorne’s Leigh McIlvenny crept into the last eight with a strong 21-8 win over Lance Bradshaw (Swanpool).
One competitor, Danny Simmons (Karingal), was pleased someone texted him for his 60th birthday today. He’d been so caught up in preparing for his men’s singles knockout matches today he’d forgotten!
But Simmons ended up with one heck of a present – making the last eight of the men’s singles with a 21-14 win over Heath McLaren (Colac).
In the women’s triples, Kelly McKerihen, Carla Krizanic and Victoria Troster have booked a spot in the final after wins over Veronica Kelly’s City of Echuca outfit in the quarters and Louise Morison, Nicole O’Connor and Tara Ferrier in the semis.
But before that internationals McKerihen (Canada) and Krizanic (Australia) will do battle in the women’s singles quarter-finals after winning their round of 16 matches.
The other women’s singles quarter-finals will feature Amelia Bruggy (Bendigo) v Melissa Larcombe (Tweed Heads), Anne Miles (Yarrawonga MGCR) v Diane Retallick (Finley RS), and last year’s Vic Medallist Lisa Phillips (Melbourne BC) v Marilyn Stephenson (Moama).
Fixtures, men’s singles (last 32)
Results, men’s singles finals
Fixtures, women’s singles finals
Results, women’s singles finals
Fixtures, women’s triples finals
Results, women’s triples finals
Fixtures, men’s pairs finals
Results, men’s pairs finals
Fixtures, women’s pairs finals
Results, women’s pairs finals
Fixtures, mixed pairs finals
Results, mixed pairs finals
UPDATED – Finals schedule
