Paul McKenzie and Henry Gordon have been denied a place in today’s final of the $25,000 Buttercup Master Pairs after going down 20-14 in their semi-final yesterday.
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The five-day tournament started on Monday and now there are only two pairs left - Nathan Wise from South Tamworth and Kim Greentree (Kootingal) who eliminated the Dubbo Railway hopefuls - and Terry Gilmore and Frank Tonn from Eagle Hawk.
McKenzie gave it his best shot and at 14-all it was anyone’s game - but that’s where his challenge finished.
The win for Greentree was especially sweet as on Saturday in the Premier League series at Tamworth, Gordon and McKenzie were part of the Western Warriors rink who beat Greentree’s side 23-14.
After coming through the sectional play earlier this week with five straight wins and a plus 58 advantage, Wise and Greentree have form on the board and according to tournament media spokesperson Helen Brook the pair is set to start favourites.
“The word here tonight is that Nathan and Kim will be first choice for the $3400 first prize cheque but you can’t take anything away from Frank Tonn and Terry Gilmore,” she said.
“Frank and Terry both played great bowls in their 29-8 semi-final win over Dean Jenner and Tim Wark from Coonabarabran and if they play up to that stardard in the final then we are in for a great match.”
Earlier yesterday, four Western Warriors players were eliminated in the quarter-finals leaving it
up to McKenzie and Gordon to carry the load and get a local team into the final. Unfortunately that didn’t happen.
In the quarter-finals Adam Lee from Nyngan and Richard Clarke (West Dubbo) went down 19-18 to Greentree and Wise while the West Dubbo
pair of John Ferguson and Matt McIntyre lost their chance for a place in
the semi-finals when beaten 20-9 by Tonn and Gilmore.
Besides the tournament final, this morning’s bowls at Railway will also see
the final round of the consolation Coca-Cola Dash for Cash which is being fought out by teams that were eliminated in the
sectional play.
The overall winner in this division will receive $1000.
“It’s been a great
tournament with very good bowls, we’re very happy with the way it’s gone and wish all the players involved in the Buttercup final and the consolation games, the best of luck,” Brook said.
