States best to roll up for Aussie Open qualifiers
QUEENSLAND'S best bowlers will descend on the Ipswich United Services Bowls Club this week for the Queensland qualifying rounds of the Australian Open Bowls Tournament.
More than 230 players from around the state and outside Queensland will compete for the chance to play at February's Australian Open in Victoria.
Players will compete in singles, pairs and triples over five days and IUS chairman Tony Urselmann said the action on the greens will be of the highest quality. "There will be excellent games to watch all week," Urselmann said.
"Players have to qualify at one of the state events to play at the Open so most of the best players in Queensland will be here.
The tournament will include Ipswich bowlers from clubs including I.U.S, Rosewood, North Ipswich, Swifts, Amberley, Toogoolawah, Laidley and more.
Competition will be hot for the local bowlers with Commonwealth Games singles indoor gold medallist Kelvin Kerkow representing his South Tweed club at the event.
Australian Open junior champion Dean McWhinney, also from South Tweed will further strengthen the men's field.
Urselmann said his club was pleased to have the chance to host another big tournament.
"In the middle of last year we hosted the Queensland Open which is a national tournament," he said. "It was very successful and I'm sure that was instrumental in our success in securing this event.
"We've had support for the Ipswich City Council who have been great supporters of bringing these events to Ipswich
"There are players from 1770, Mackay, all over Queensland."
Play starts today with qualifying rounds of the men's singles and women's triples events. Action continues until Thursday with the mixed pairs and additional events being completed on Friday.
