Media Release: Tuesday, February 20, 2007

CHAMPS SHOCKED - KERKOW, GLASSON ENDURE NIGHTMARE

Two of Australia’s greatest ever bowlers – Kelvin Kerkow and Steve Glasson – were two of the many seeds to fall on a day of upsets at the ABN AMRO Australian Open in Melbourne today (20/2).

Kerkow and Glasson – one of the most formidable pairs outfits assembled – were knocked out of the tournament by a Victorian father and son combination.

World champion Glasson and 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Kerkow went down to qualifiers Matthew and Trevor Robertson 7-8, 11-3, 2-0.

The shock loss was compounded in the opening round of the triples at Darebin International Sports Centre.

Playing with world No.1 Greg Harlow in what was billed as the “terrific trio” the No.1 seeds were expected to take all before them, but instead crashed to another team of qualifiers.

Yarraville-Footscray members Malcolm Reilly, Norman Drinkwater and Rudolf Rettmaier defeated the game’s greats 7-10, 12-5, 2-0.

The shocks kept coming on day three of the tournament with top Australian Nathan Rice and No. 3 seed David Gourlay of Scotland sent packing in round two of the singles.

While the big names were left to ponder their early exits, the surprise winners celebrated their memorable days on the green.

“It rates highly, very highly,” Matthew Robertson said just moments after the unlikely defeat of Kerkow and Glasson.

“I think seeing a number of the top seeds go down this week gives the underdogs a bit of confidence.

“We went in with nothing to lose. They’ve got six bowls and we’ve got exactly the same; we just went out there to enjoy it.”

Kerkow said the better team won the contest.

“They played super well, they deserved to win,” Kerkow said.

“We got smashed in the second set and they totally outplayed us in the tie-breaker as well.”

There was some joy for Kerkow towards the end of the day, however, when he won his second round singles match against Anthony Buckingham 14-1, 9-5. Glasson also kept his tournament alive with a second round win in the singles.

Later in the afternoon the Robertson boys couldn’t sustain their impressive run and their Open dream ended at the hands of Western Australia’s David Opie and Kyle McIlroy.

Barrie Lester and Wayne Turley survived a challenge from the Northern Territory team of Scott Chamberlain and Tom Palazzi to qualify for the semi-final stage.

The men’s pairs final will be played at 2.00pm tomorrow (21/2) following the semi-finals in the morning session.

After a day on the sidelines, the women resume in the competition tomorrow (21/2), highlighted by the women’s quarter-finals at 1.00pm.