They came to Dubbo with big reputations and the international pair of Kevin Anderson and Ryan Bester didn’t disappoint, taking out Friday’s final of the $31,000 Sporties Masters Pairs in style.
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Scottish star Anderson and Canadian number one Bester won Friday’s final of the Bowls Australian recognised event by 10 shots after proving themselves as the benchmark during the five days of competition.
“They were the best team,” Sporties’ Sports Development Officer Nic Gannon said of Anderson and Bester.
“In saying that they lost their first game but they fought back hard and were the best team consistently over the five days and they ended up winning it.
“They’re consistent and they’re just class. At the clutch moments they just lifted.”
Gannon was delighted Dubbo and his club could host bowlers the calibre of Anderson and Bester, giving locals an indication of what is needed to be at the very peak of the sport.
The pair, both currently bowling out of of the Broadbeach club, defeated former NSW representative Zel Trbara and Zone 10 player Matt Phillips from Northmead in the decider.
“It’s absolutely massive for a place like Dubbo to get players of that quality here,” he said.
“You wouldn’t get a Roger Federer or someone like that in tennis out here so to get those guys is massive.”
Paul McKenzie was the best of the Dubbo hopes, finishing fifth with former local Jae Marskell, now of Mudgee.
“Paul won it last year with Aaron Sherriff who is on the Australian team but he couldn’t make it this year so he teamed up with Jae and they did quite well but came up against Bester and Anderson and they absolutely belted them,” Gannon said, before praising the winning side further.
“The local players soon realise how good these guys are when they come up against the quality opposition.
“It (the final) was a really good quality game. Zel and Matt were a bit unlucky at times but Ryan and Kevin, their class just shone and they were far too good and won by 10 shots in the end.”
Shaun Williams and Trent Whittingham of Penrith and Wentworthville respectively were the winners of the Dash for Cash.
As well as $6,000 in prizemoney, Anderson and Bester also earned plenty of points in the national Australian rankings.
With the Masters Pairs being a Bowls Australia accredited event, and the second biggest pairs tournament in the country, the top 16 sides all earned points towards national rankings.
Gannon was delighted his club hosted such a lucrative tournament, adding the $15,000 Best in the Wild West Fours, also a Bowls Australia event, is set to be played towards the end of the year.
2017 MASTERS PAIRS
Results
DASH FOR CASH
BEST GAME 1 WINNER $300 - Ray Dixon, Kel Anderson.
BEST GAME 2 WINNER $300 - Mark Menzies, Peter Clarke.
BEST GAME 3 WINNER $300 - Adam Favell, Rob Warren.
5TH $400 – Daryl McKinnon, Ian Barrett (Charlestown)
4TH $500 – Col Curtis, Graham Rossiter (Tumut)
3RD $600 – Max Low, Matt Goodwin (Dubbo Railway/Tottenham)
2ND $800 – Keeden McGuire, Dylan Riley (Foster)
1ST $1200 - Shaun Williams, Trent Whittingham (Penrith/Wentworthville)
MAIN PRIZE POOL
8TH $700 – Rod Mellon, Ryan Burnett - Broadbeach.
7TH $900 – Aaron Severs, Glenn Perrin - Penrith.
6TH $1200 – Rod Dixon, Doug Newton - Grandviews/Inverell.
5TH $1500 – Jae Marskell, Paul McKenzie - Mudgee/Dubbo Railway.
4TH $2000 - Rod Rewko, Darren Morrison - Terrigal.
3RD $3000 – Brodie Turner, Phil Westcott - Ettalong.
2ND $4000 – Matt Phillips, Zel Trbara - Northmead.
1ST $6000 – Kevin Anderson, Ryan Bester - Broadbeach