HISTORY |
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Entries & Qualifiers
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See details from past Australian Open events The Australian Open will be held for the fifth time in 2009. In the short history of the event it has grown rapidly to be the richest and most prestigious event conducted by Bowls Australia. The event will be taking a one year leave from Darebin while the greens are being completely renovated, before returning to Darebin in 2010. The inaugural event was held at Yarraville / Footscray Bowls Club in 2005. 64 men participated in the singles main draw, while only 48 women were given the chance to compete. The total prize pool was $68,000, with each singles winner taking home $12,000. This Open also incorporated the Australian Bowls Classic for intellectually disabled bowlers. The 2006 event moved to the new greens at Darebin, which had just been used to host the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. A vast increase in the draw size saw 103 men play off for the singles title, and 86 women in the singles main draw. The prize pool reflected this increase in draw size, with $100,000 being awarded. In 2006 the finals of the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation (AERF) mixed pairs challenge were included as part of the Australian Open event. Another great increase in entrant numbers occurred in 2007, with a 256 men's singles draw and 128 women's singles draw being played for the $18,000 prize money. Increases in draw size also occurred in every other discipline. The over 60's triples challenge was introduced in 2007, with the aim of increasing entrants for this challenge over following Australian Open events. The largest prize pool ever on offer was on offer at the 2008 ABN AMRO Australian Open. Each of the other draws was highly contested for the increase in prize money across the board. The Australian Bowls Classic, AERF Mixed Pairs Challenge and Over 60's men's and women's triples events were again held alongside the main draws at DISC. The 2009 Australian Open will see a decrease in the women's draws, to 64 women's singles, and 32 pairs and triples. This is reflective of the trend of entries, and will help keep the event as the premier event in Australia, challenging bowlers to work extra hard to achieve a place in the main draw. The men's draw will remain the same size, as a result of the fantastic number of entries in to qualifying in 2008. Australian
Open Honour Roll 2008
2007
2006
2005
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