Day 5 – 2017 Steller Vic Open
Lisa Phillips’ renaissance continues at the Steller Vic Open, with an extraordinary win over Tiffany Brodie on Day 5 sending her into the last eight of the women’s singles and back into Vic Medal contention.
In a gripping night match, Australian development player Brodie (Clayton) held a big lead before Phillips clawed her way back.
From the point she trailed 19-16, the match went up several notches, and Phillips eventually levelled up at 19-all.
Phillips then held game before Brodie turned things around and picked up a shot to lead 20-19, before Phillips added one and the match boiled down to the last end. That end proved a chess match – the pair trading good shots and counter-moves before Phillips held shot and put her last bowl on the T.
With the jack re-spotted at the Vic Open, that meant Brodie had to draw to win the match. And she nearly did – her shot aimed perfectly but carrying a little too much weight, and Phillips running out a 21-20 winner.
Phillips now looks set for a showdown with Tasmania’s Lee Schraner for the Vic Medal for best performed overall player in the tournament.
Schraner held the advantage early on after he and partner Gayle Edwards beat Phillips and Nick McIntyre in the mixed pairs round of 16, 16-6.
But while Schraner is also alive in the men’s singles and triples, he and Brad Marron bowed out of the men’s pairs late in the day – the event in which they are defending champions.
Schraner will play his last 16 match in the men’s singles on Day 6, when he takes on Matthew Lucas of Helensvale.
In the mixed pairs, Mikayla Long (Sunbury) and Curtis Hanley (Melbourne), Zane Mikin-Laurie (Moama) and Wendy Wilson (Tweed Heads) and defending champions Michael Sims and Sharon Steele also won through to the last eight.
Defending men’s singles champion Matt Flapper is into the last 16 of the men’s singles, winning his knockout match against Henry Heer (Geelong City) 21-7 then beating Cain Hanley (Melbourne) 21-11 in the last 32.
Many of the last eight in the men’s singles are already decided. State pairs champion Ben Hubber (Glenroy) had an amazing win over Curtis Hanley, coming from 10 shots down early to win 21-18.
Ex-Shepparton players Mitch Sidebottom (South Bendigo) and Matt Robertson (Benalla) carry the local hopes in the quarter-finals, while Bundoora RSL’s Nathan Murray and Wodonga’s Paul Davies are also through to the last eight.
In the women’s singles, triple State champion Kylie Whitehead knocked out defending vic Open champion Kelly McKerihen 21-14 to move into the quarter-finals.
Under 18 star Mikayla Long (Sunbury) and State Over 60 champion Mary Tragardh (Yackandandah) are also through to the last eight, while northern Victorian club Lake Boga – near Swan Hill – has two representatives in the quarter-finals, Lisa Critten and Judy Wilson.
Results updated throughout the day:
Results, Men’s singles finals
Results, Women’s singles finals
Results, Men’s pairs finals
Results, Women’s pairs finals
Results, Men’s triples finals
Results, Women’s triples finals
Results, Mixed pairs finals
Knockout Rounds and Finals:
Click here for the Knockout and Finals schedule.
Please note: Knockout Rounds for the 22nd & 23rd November 2017 – This schedule may change depending on players still being in multiple events. Some of the scheduled later rounds in the day may be played at a different time. If there are changes, teams and players will be notified.
