Media Release: Monday, February 19, 2007

DENISON STUNNED AS KERKOW SURVIVES SCARE

Day two of the ABN AMRO Australian Open saw the start of men’s singles action with No.1 seed Kelvin Kerkow taking to the Darebin International Sports Centre greens against Victorian qualifier Peter Gawthorne.

Kerkow, the reigning Commonwealth Games singles gold medallist, made a shaky start to the contest before hitting his straps in the second set for a 6-8, 13-0, 2-0 victory.

Steve Glasson, the No.5 seed and reigning world singles champion also had to work hard to make his way into the second round.

Glasson dropped the first set of his encounter with fellow NSW bowler Stephen Arthur before recovering for a 6-8, 7-6, 2-0 win.

Kiwi Richard Girvan (seeded 12) made an impressive start to the tournament when he thumped Dave Ryan of the North Balwyn club in Victoria 10-3, 8-2.

Malaysian Safuan Said also flew the flag for the international contingent, downing Victorian qualifier Peter Hodgkinson 13-6, 9-4.

It was not all good news for the seeded players however with England’s Danny Denison a top 10 casualty packing his bags early and booking flights home.

Denison, a regular English international and eighth seed lost to Peter MacDonald 11-3, 6-6.

Australian squad member and Commonwealth Games triples gold medallist Wayne Turley was another high profile departure, losing to Thomas Ross 1-14, 6-4, 2-0 .

David Gouraly, the number three seed, comfortably opened his singles account with a straight sets win over Anthony Mathison of Victoria.

Gourlay plays on the World Bowls Tour and resides in Sydney. His ominous 12-7, 9-1 first round win will serve as a warning to potential opponents.

Another top name to put his stamp on the singles scene today was top-ranked Australian Nathan Rice.

The Queenslander, who took to the green in a vibrant pair of green and gold LightFeet shoes, won in straight sets against Victorian qualifier Justin Davis 8-6, 10-2.

In the men’s pairs, Ross and Alan Dove have advanced to the quarter finals and will meet Chris Green and Zel Trbara of New South Wales.

The fifth seeds, England’s Greg Harlow and Matthew Merchant, have also booked a place in the quarter-finals.
Play also got underway in the women’s triples today with some surprising results.

The No.1 seeds Kelsey Cottrell, Claire Duke and Julie Keegan were defeated by Victorian qualifiers Jenny Cockerell, Marie Lourdes-Taylor and Beryl Stewart 11-8, 6-12, 2-0.

Fellow Australian squad members Noi Tucker, Sharyn Renshaw and Lynsey Armitage also fell victim to the first round blues.