AUSTRALIAN representative Karen Murphy’s chances of winning an historic fourth Black Douglas bowls title at South Tweed Sports later this month have received a considerable boost with the withdrawal of three of her Australian team-mates.
After becoming only the second lady to win three Black Douglas titles, alongside South Tweed legend Ruth McRae, Cabramatta, NSW, Australian star Karen Murphy will look to continue her stellar run and collect an unprecedented back-to-ack and fourth overall win in 2013.
Her hopes have been inadvertently boosted with the unavailability of established Australian team-mates Kelsey Cottrell (winner 2007, 2011), Anne Johns (winner 2010) and Lynsey Armitage (runner-up 2008).
Cottrell has university commitments, Johns will be due to give birth and Armitage will be honeymooning in the US after her recent marriage.
However Murphy will not have it all her own way, those back for the second tilt include Carla Odgers who ran a close second to Murphy in their 2012 post sectionals and Rebecca Quail who lost her 2012 semi-final to Murphy.
Murphy will also be aware of 2012 Qld Rep Player of the Year and Champion of Champions Singles winner Kristy Thatcher while another fierce challenge will come from Natasha Jones who in her remarkable final junior year won in all four disciplines, singles, pairs, triples and fours to compliment her Qld Junior Player of the Year crown.
Tweed Heads rising star Lauren Wilson makes her debut after defeating Mum Wendy in the Tweed Heads Ladies Singles while Rosie Lovelock is also debuting, joining older sister Yvonne. The 64 players cover five states with travellers from Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria joining the ‘home’ states of New South Wales and Queensland.
The field of 64 players contest the 2013 Black Douglas Ladies Singles for Masters Monday 27 May to Thursday 30 May at South Tweed Sports.
PLAYING SCHEDULE
Monday/Tuesday 27-28 May, 32 players over both days in eight sections x 4, 9am start.
Wednesday 29 May, post sectional, 16 players, four sections x 4, 9am start.
Thursday 30 May, finals, semi-final 9am, final 1pm (about), presentations 3.30pm (about).
