2020 Tasmanian Champion of Champions Singles Winners
Bowls Tasmania hosted its first State Competition since the reopening of bowls greens in Tasmania caused by COVID-19 restrictions. The event was initially scheduled for May this year but was finally completed at the Longford Bowls Club today.
Each of the six players had progressed through to the State Finals after winning their way through their respective Club’s Open Singles Championships and then their regional final. The women’s finalists were Rebecca Van Asch (North), Alison Venn (North West) and Rosie Geeves (South) and the men’s finalists were Andrew Appleyard (North), Mark Nitz (North West) and Taelyn Male (South).
Nitz and Male had both claimed victory in their first games of the day and setup what was effectively the final in the round robin competition. It was Male, who hails from the Kingborough Bowls Club, who came out of the blocks firing and at the halfway mark of the match had setup a 13-6 lead. Nitz tried to fight back with a couple of three shots scores added to the scoreboard, however it was Male that held firm. With scores at 18-14 and holding 2 shots with the last bowl of the end in his hand, Male drew the winning shot to claim 3 and the title.
This is a maiden Champion of Champions singles title for Taleyn having also claimed a State Open Singles title in 2017.
In the women’s event Invermay’s Rebecca Van Asch also came away from the day undefeated to claim the women’s title. Van Asch made strong starts in both of her games that put her opponents under pressure. Venn came back at Van Asch in game 1 overcoming a 14-7 deficit to get back within one shot at 17-16. However with consecutive scores of 2 shots, Van Asch got to the final 21 shots needed, before accounting for Geeves in the afternoon.
Van Asch claims Champion of Champions singles title number 3 having previously won in 2013 and 2015 to go along with her 5 State Open Singles Titles.
