THRILLING FINALE TO 2024 QUEENSLAND JUNIOR CUP

Local bowlers share podium honours with interstate young-guns

Two days of pin-flying action and over 1500 fiercely contested qualifying games were capped by a thrilling finale to this year’s QUEENSLAND JUNIOR CUP and QUEENSLAND YOUTH CUP at Logan City Tenpin Bowl today.

Hitting the lanes early this morning, the top 12 under-18 boys and girls rolled a further five games competing for the cut to top six in each division and progression to the head-to-head matchplay finals.

Firing a sensational 213.10 average 16 year old Julian Dinham from Bankstown in Sydney shot to the lead in Stage 2 of the boy’s division final while fellow NSW bowler Aleisha McGarry from Shellharbour topped the field in the female division by a single pin with a total pinfall of 3056.   Bella Westlake from Redbank Plains in Brisbane and Townsville’s Emily Hinspeter were in hot pursuit on 3055 and 3051 pinfalls respectively going into the last stage of the finals.

The pressure increased further in the Stage 3 finals with pinfall carrying over and the round robin final rounds offering 30 bonus pins for a win and 15 bonus for a tie.

Maintaining his form from Stage 2, Julian Dinham was crowned male champion of the 2024 QUEENSLAND JUNIOR CUP with an emphatic victory over Victoria’s Nicholas Rajkovic.    The female division produced a cliff-hanger final game battle for placings after Redbank Plains teenager Bella Westlake stormed to a thrilling win ahead of runner-up, Tasmania’s Jasmine Walker.

The remainder of the U-18 field out of the initial cut to top 12 had their handicap added to their further qualifying games pinfall, with the top four bowlers ultimately competing in the stepladder finals.  The final rounds of the Under 18 Restricted Division of the 2024 Queensland Junior Cup showcased the talents of several Logan City bowlers including Chloie Alchin, Lexi Colgan and Harper Mundraby, with Tamsyn Wheatley from Coolangatta/Tweed clinching the Graded title in the female division.  Logan’s Deakin Buckingham emerged victorious in the male division, with Bronx Walsh from Ballina runner-up.

Earlier in the day under challenging conditions, Rochedale’s Connor Renton defeated Logan’s Mason Marles by a slim 5 pin margin in the 2-game final of the male division of the under-21 QUEENSLAND YOUTH CUP while Charlene Burnet from Brisbane’s Lawnton clinched a decisive victory over Logan local Tamika Pettigrew in the female division.

A colourful array of trophies and prizes was awarded at the conclusion of the 3-day bowling festival, including the prestigious Fletcher Family Trophy for Sportsmanship which was won by Victorian Flynn Slade, with Rising Star Awards presented to Rebecca Iman-Soetomo from Ashmore and New Zealand’s Cooper Mollet.  All three winners of these coveted awards were also presented with a STORM bowling ball, generously donated by QJC sponsor BPD Bowling Australia.

Organisers were delighted with the response to this year’s tournament, one of the most popular rankings events on the sport’s national calendar.    “We’ve had really positive feedback from players, officials and parents alike about the professionalism of the event we delivered … we’re very fortunate to have such a great range of bowling centres here in Queensland who support our volunteer committees in developing the sport for our enthusiastic younger generation – our future heroes!” Organising Committee Chair, Jodi Bishop said proudly.

Full results for qualifying matches and today’s finals at www.tenpinresults.com.au.

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