Doutch Leads Australian Open

[Graham]

With B Squad having completed qualifying, and only A Squad to go this afternoon, the Top 16 is starting to take shape.

Local Michael Doutch averaged 239.39 yesterday morning in the first squad, including his first ever 300 game, to lead the field. Doutch bowled 837 for his final 3 games. Doutch had never before passed 10 strikes in a row before "Whenever I got to 10 I always start shaking, so I just took the extra time to try and calm myself a little more." Doutch said "So I am just very happy about it all." When asked of his plans for today, he replied "Normally I plan just to get over the card to make sure that I can stay in touch and not make it hard for myself, but now i've done so well so far I just have to hope it keeps going. I'm sure after I've thrown the first few today it will ease some of the nerves"

Ashley Riley from Tasmania bowled a 300 game during game 3 of B Squad to cement his place in the top 16 overnight.

Complete Scores from this mornings B Squad are available by following the link above to 2003 Live Scores then onto the 2003 Australian Open.

 

[Graham]

Doutch Leads Australian Open Into Matchplay
Updated Sunday, April 20, 2003 by Graham

Victorian Michael Doutch, who shot his first ever 300 in game 8, is leading the Australian Open after qualifying finished this afternoon at Sunshine Bowl, Melbourne.

Doutch finished with +560 (3760 pinfall, 235.0 ave) to lead from fellow Victorian and Australian World Cup representative Paul Trotter (3713, 232.1ave). Jason Walsh from Ballina, NSW is third (3699, 231.2 ave). PWBA star Cara Honeychurch, who finished 9th at the WIBC Queens tournament last week, is sitting in 4th place at 228.8 ave. Honeychurch is well placed to take out her third consecutive Australian Open crown.

Another Victorian, Chris Mesagno averaged 232.5 today to jump from 56th overnight to 16th and last qualiufying place with 214 ave overall (3424 pinfall, +224)

Pos Bowler +/_ Ave
1 Michael Doutch +560 235.00
2 Paul Trotter +513 232.06
3 Jason Walsh +499 231.19
4 Cara Honeychurch +460 228.75
5 Jason Belmonte +447 227.94
6 Carl Bottomley +403 225.19
7 David Turnage +354 222.13
8 Anthony Flynn +352 222.00
9 Andrew Frawley +312 219.50
10 Matt Riley +303 218.94
11 Jarrod Lean +293 218.31
13 George Frilingos +276 217.25
13 Alan Skupin +276 217.25
14 Matt O'Brien +237 214.81
15 Christian Purdue +229 214.31
16 Chris Mesagno +224 214.00

Bowling continues tomorrow morning at 10:00am, with the Top 16 contesting 15 games of Matchplay. Pinfall from qualifying carries over.