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MEDIA RELEASE | |
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Results
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Media release: 17th December 2007 2008 ABN AMRO AUSTRALIAN OPEN - QUALIFYING It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.
During next year’s ABN AMRO Australian Open, the tournament will once again open its fields to the nation’s finest club bowlers, providing them with up to 70 qualifying positions for the blue-ribbon singles’ events at Darebin International Sports Centre.
With a selection of the planet’s finest bowlers in attendance, including Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kelvin Kerkow and defending champion Robert Doody, the $120,000 tournament has the potential to unearth the world’s next Cottrell, Cornehls or Duke, regardless of their current status.
During the 2007 Australian Open, Doody, who entered the tournament as a rank outsider, completed a fairytale run when he defeated Sydney’s Scott Caundle in straight sets during a nail-biting final singles final.
In February, however, the search for the next champion will be on in earnest, with up to 70 qualifying positions up for grabs in the men’s and women’s singles draw and up to 40 in the respective pairs and triples disciplines.
“The ABN AMRO Australian Open is the country’s major event and it is great that so many bowlers want to be a part of it,” Bowls Australia chief executive officer Neil Dalrymple said.
“We expect to again exceed the number of qualifying entries we had for the last Australian Open as we push to make next year’s event bigger and better.
“We’re excited about the fact that the greens at Darebin will be top-notch and ready to host Australia’s premier bowling tournament.
“I encourage any bowlers wanting to get involved to enter qualifying.”
With just three weeks to go before applications close, entries for the respective disciplines at the ABN AMRO Australian Open are still being accepted, with qualifying to take place in metropolitan Melbourne from February 13 to 15.
A multi-discipline tournament, the nation’s most lucrative event will feature singles, pairs and triples for both men and women, with an over-60s triples class also being staged.
Entry forms for the 2008 ABN AMRO Australian Open qualifying tournament are available from Bowls Australia on 03 9819 2722 or online at www.bowlsaustralia.com.au, with applications being accepted until 5pm on Thursday, January 7, 2008.
The 2008 ABN AMRO Australian Open will be staged at Darebin International Sports Centre from February 17 to 23.
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