Julie Keegan’s Delhi preparations spiked dramatically today (23/8) as the Commonwealth Games bound lawn bowler advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Indoor Championships at Tweed Heads.
In her last major tournament on home soil before departing for the sub-continent, the 46-year-old moved within striking distance of her maiden Indoors crown, firing an ominous warning to the remainder of the field.
Keegan will now meet the winner of tomorrow morning’s clash between Western Australia’s Noelene Abe and Tasmania’s Debra Lee for a spot in the semis.
During an explosive start to the $30,000 tournament, three-time defending champion Karen Murphy came out all guns blazing as she eliminated Victoria’s Eileen Gillett, continuing the world number six’s incredible run at the tournament which has resulted in 16 successive wins dating back to 2007.
Near untouchable on the Tweed Head surface, Murphy will again be hard to beat, but will have to contend with a host of big names including Commonwealth Games gold medallist Lynsey Armitage, who also advanced today.
In the men’s draw, world number nine Anthony Kiepe got his title defence off to the perfect start as he claimed back-to-back wins against Victoria’s Matthew Rennex and Western Australia’s Ross Pringle to set up a quarter-final showdown with NSW’s Brody Pitham.
Joining Kiepe in the winners’ circle was Australian teammates Brett Wilkie and Aron Sherriff, ranked five and seven in the world respectively, along with Victorian ace Barrie Lester and NSW teenager Jesse Noronha.
Less than six weeks out from her Commonwealth Games debut, Keegan, who will skip the women’s triples team in Delhi, said it was nice to find some high quality match practice ahead of October.
“It’s good to be able to get past the first game,” a relaxed Keegan said.
“I just try to stay in the moment. (The thought of Delhi) is pretty exciting, but playing as much bowls as possible at the moment is good and I’m playing plenty.”
Staged over four days from August 23 to 26, the $30,000 Australian Indoor Championships will continue tomorrow with the second round for the men and women.
Click here for more information on the 2010 Australian Indoor Championships.
Day one results
(Men) RD 1: Gary Thompson (SA) bt Michael Parravicini (VIC) 7-12, 11-7, 6-0, Eddie Dodd (WA) bt Gerard Beath (NSW) 11-5, 11-4, Ray Pearse (NSW) bt Mark Diamond (NT) 10-1, 11-1, Jesse Norohna (NSW) bt Mark Nitz (TAS) 11-2, 4-10, 3-1, Brendon Baker (NSW) bt Todd Simmons (VIC) 5-7, 7-3, 3-1, Russell Bates (WA) bt Chad Muir (VIC) 11-6, 7-7, Brett Wilkie (QLD) v Nigel Cowdery (VIC) 11-4, 9-0, Kurt Brown (QLD) v Steve Graf (TAS) 8-7, 10-0, Aron Sherriff (NSW) v David Stanaway (VIC) 10-5, 8-4, Anthony Kiepe (QLD) bt Matthew Rennex (QLD) 10-8, 10-1, Jeremy Henry (NSW) bt Wayne Jones (QLD) 7-8, 7-6, 5-0, Simon Mitchell (NSW) bt Rob Baker (VIC) 2-7, 14-4, 2-1, Brody Pitham (NSW) bt Trentan Healey 9-3, 11-3, Brody Pitham (NSW) bt Trentan Healey 9-3, 11-3, Ross Pringle (WA) bt Max Cobb (VIC) 7-9, 12-7, 6-0, Barrie Lester (VIC) bt Steve Grant (SA) 9-6, 8-4, Jamie Anderson (QLD) bt Oska Setyana (VIC) 11-1, 9-5.
RD 2: Anthony Kiepe (QLD) bt Ross Pringle (WA) 14-0, 11-4, Brody Pitham (NSW) bt Jeremy Henry (NSW) 10-7, 11-1.
(Women) RD 1: Di Green (SA) bt Debbie Schoemaker (NSW) 10-6, 5-10, 2-1, Carla Odgers (VIC) bt Marie Moorouse (NSW) 8-4, 10-4, Arleen Foley (NT) bt Naomi Elliott (NSW) forfeit, Lynsey Armitage (QLD) bt Liz Gooda (SA) 11-7, 8-3, Arleen Jeffrey (NSW) bt Ann Streeter (ACT) 10-7, 10-3, Noelene Abe (WA) bt Shahn Griffiths (QLD) 8-4, 8-7, Karen Murphy (NSW) bt Eileen Gillett (VIC) 15-0, 11-3, Debra Lee (TAS) bt Christina Pavlov (QLD) 8-6, 4-10, 2-1, Therese Hastings (WA) bt Kirsty de Waard 9-6, 0-10, 3-1, Julie Keegan (NSW) bt Lanni Pham (VIC) 13-4, 8-3, Katrina Wright (NSW) bt Denise Knight (QLD) 9-6, 12-4, Lisa Mitchell (NSW) bt Lyn Balding (WA) 11-1, 12-6, Gaylene Elsworthy (TAS) bt Kay Moran (NSW) 7-6, 10-2, Jane Bush (QLD) bt Metta Jennison (NSW) 9-7, 6-5, Lisa Prideaux (NSW) bt Tara Ferrier (VIC) 6-8, 12-3, 7-0, Joyce Lindores (VIC) bt Kaye Coomber (TAS) 9-6, 8-4.
RD 2: Julie Keegan (NSW) bt Lisa Prideaux (NSW) 9-4, 11-4, Jane Bush (QLD) bt Gaylene Elsworthy (TAS) 1-9, 11-0, 3-2
