Champion of State Pennant – Midweek
Ocean Grove have won the 2017 Midweek Champion of State Pennant final at Moama Bowling Club, beating Benalla 64-35.
Spearheaded by a 22-shot win by Joan Tennent’s rink, the Grovers secured the revived State Pennant Championship for midweek, remaining unbeaten in their six matches throughout the tournament.
The match was close early, but Tennent’s four took charge against Merv Sellars, racing out to a 17-3 lead which proved the difference. While Pat Virtue’s rink for Ocean Grove – including Commonwealth Games medallist Matt Flapper – was holding sway against Bill Armstrong, Benalla’s Sharon Warfe was up against Lorraine Kirk.
Tennent ran out a 31-9 winner, Virtue won 17-10, while Warfe produced some heroics for Benalla, adding two shots on the final end to draw 16-all with Kirk.
After a nail biting finish to sectional play in which any one of seven teams could have theoretically made the final going into the final round of matches, Benalla’s victory over Yallourn in their last sectional match allowed them to top Section B on shot difference from Bendigo East.
Ocean Grove’s 10-shot win over Kyneton Golf to finish the sectionals gave them an unbeaten record in Section A, which they extended to six matches with their victory in the final.
This year’s event was the first time Champion of State Pennant has been held since 2014, with Moama Bowling Club’s sponsorship allowing Bowls Victoria to revive it.
Results, grand final
Fixtures, Section A
Results, Section A
Ladder, Section A
Fixtures, Section B
Results, Section B
Ladder, Section B
