|
|
MEDIA RELEASE | |
|
|
Results
|
Media release: 18th Feburary 2008 KERKOW CRASHES INTO THE SECOND ROUND
Reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalist Kelvin Kerkow has barnstormed his way into the second round of the blue ribbon men’s singles at the ABN AMRO Australian Open today (18/2).
After drawing former Australian teammate Brett Wilkie in the opening round, Kerkow, the tournament’s number one seed and short-priced favourite, was forced to pull out all the stops as friends became foes.
Having secured the opening set 12-4, Kerkow led 7-6 with an end to play before Wilkie drew two shots with his final bowl.
With the match on the line, Kerkow had his heart in his mouth as his bowl rolled up the green, before sliding past one of Wilkie’s counters and coming to rest.
As the crowd looked on, Wilkie conceded to Kerkow, handing him a second round clash with Victoria’s David Morgan.
“I was very happy,” a relaxed Kerkow said following his straight sets victory.
“I thought I played well…playing Brett Wilkie was always going to be a tough game and a hard first round draw.
“It was almost a tie-break, (but) I thought I played a bad end the one before to let him back into the set.
“I think there are three rounds today, so hopefully I can find some rhythm, as it could be a good day.”
In other opening round matches, World Championship and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Ryan Bester was lucky to survive a gripping tie-break against Victorian qualifier Peter Gerty.
Bester, the tournament’s fifth seed, dropped three shots on the opening end of the tie-break before rallying to post a nail-biting 5-3 victory.
The news for New Zealand’s Andrew Todd and former Australian star Rob Parrella, however, was not as fortunate, with both players eliminated from the tournament.
The ABN AMRO Australian Open, which is currently being staged in Melbourne from February 17 to 23, is the most prestigious event on the Bowls Australia calendar and continues to go from strength to strength.
With $120,000 up for grabs, it is the nation’s most lucrative bowls event and will feature singles, pairs and triples for both men and women.
A full wrap of today’s ABN AMRO Australian Open will be distributed before the day is out. |