Sunday 30th July 2006 – the cream of Australia’s senior bowlers aged 50 years and over descended on South Australia’s Village Bowl to compete for the 4th South Australia Seniors Classic. This event was played on a 3:1 ratio 38 foot pattern which offered a fair shot for all and will obviously attract the attention of the selectors as these same bowlers vie for contention for selection to the 2007 National Seniors Team to attend the Asian Seniors Championship in Suzuka Japan in November 2007.
The ladies division of this tournament has been dominated by Jeanette Baker having won the past three Senior Classics and this year’s start seemed like ‘ground hog’ day over again for her fellow female competitors. So much so that Jeanette’s +154 start eclipsed the best of the men. Susanne Jack (NSW) -12, Ingrid Coburn (Vic) -49 and Marg Dollman (SA) at -73 where the only ones close enough to be a threat with daylight to the rest of the field.
In the men’s division, current Australia senior team member, Victorian Rod Stewart, topped the leader board with a 209.90 average ahead of J.P. Li, Greg Lyas and Barry ‘Jagga’ Morgan who all filled the minor places separated by the narrowest of margins. Local bowler Frosty Gorostiaga, Chris Benson and Lawrie Hill were the only other bowlers to record 200 or more averages.
With a new format introduced in 2006, the bowlers returned on Day Two to fight it out over another 8 games.
Jeanette Baker maintained her lead for her fourth consecutive title while Ingrid Coburn (2nd) -102 repeated her 2005 performance and Susanne Jack -203 took out the other place.
Barry ‘Jagga’ Morgan was the big improver in the men’s division moving up the leader board to set the pace in the Sunday morning squad to finish with 3737 pinfall or 207.61 average for the 18 games. The minor places were also filled by B Squad bowlers, Rod Stewart (+110) and Lawrie Hill at +72. John Sullivan (Vic) made some big moves but ran out of games to finish in fourth at +68 after recording -102 overnight.
Susanne Jack, Jeanette Baker & Ingrid Coburn
Lawrie Hill, Barry Morgan & Rod Stewart
