World Championship gold medallists Lynsey Armitage and Julie Keegan have sewn the seeds for a successful title defence at the Janome NSW Open with a first up win this morning.
Despite a shaky start, which included halving the first set with Kristy Flaxman and Veronique Jewell, the Australian pair found their feet in the second as they powered to a 7-7, 11-4 win.
While the defending champions had their moments, they soon found their groove on the Taren Point greens as their quest for back–to-back titles began in the right fashion.
The pair will now meet the crafty Judy Croft and Jan Rolph, who also overcame a slow start, to post a 13-12, 8-4 victory Cheryl Douglas and Loretta Marchese.
On the same green, St Johns’ Anne Johns and Claire Duke used a get out of jail card to dispose of Jilly Bird and Deby Brien.
Despite winning just three ends, Johns and Duke took the first set 11-10 before clinching the second 10-3.
Other first round winners included reigning New Zealand Open champion Kay Moran, who on this occasion partnered Mosman Park’s Therese Hastings to 7-6, 11-6 victory over Victoria’s Danielle and Lisa Phillips, as well as newly crowned Australian Junior Champions Sarah Boddington and Sarah Vesenjak, four-time grand prix winner Corinne Crouche and Margaret Smith and Australian stars Sam Shannahan and Kelsey Cottrell.
Reigning Australian and New Zealand Open champion Karen Murphy also posted a 14-3, 9-3 victory alongside Western Australian prodigy Kristina Krstic.
The second round of the women’s pairs will commence at 11.30am, with the first round of the men’s fours also getting underway.
A multi-discipline tournament, the Janome NSW Open features pairs and fours for both men and women with $30,000 up for grabs.
The competition commences at Taren Point on Tuesday, October 6 and runs through to Friday, October 9, with the finals broadcast across the nation on ABC TV.
Click here for more information on the 2009 Janome NSW Open.
