Taylor in fightback, Suttie just too good

THE best bowlers in Southern Tasmania were at New Norfolk on Sunday and battled it out in the semi-finals and grand finals of the Bowls Tasmania South Open and B grade men’s and women’s singles championships — with top honours resting with Claremont’s Michael Taylor and Rosny Park’s Jenny Suttie.

In the Open Men’s grand final, Buckingham’s Peter Gangell won three of the first five ends to lead Taylor by one shot but Taylor took control after that, restricting Gangell to just two more winning ends for the match to win easily by 19 shots.

In the semi-finals, Taylor defeated Glenorchy Rodman’s Josh Baker, while Gangell overcame the young Nathan Dinning by eight shots.

In the Men’s B Grade final, victory went to St John’s Park’s Michael Hughes who defeated Royal Hobart’s Owen O’Driscoll by seven shots. O’Driscoll started well, winning the first four ends before Hughes responded winning six ends in a row to open up a four-shot lead. It was neck-and-neck after that with Hughes just managing to stay front.

In the semis, Hughes beat New Norfolk’s Tim Morgan, while O’Driscoll beat Glenorchy City’s Robert Lockley.

Rosny Park’s Jennie Suttie is the new Women’s Open champion after defeating Claremont’s Joy Voss by nine shots in the grand final.

Suttie gained control early in the grand final and established a 10-shot lead in the first 10 ends and maintained that margin to the finish.

In the semis, Suttie had a convincing win over Claremont’s Meekie Salter, while Voss won a nailbiter against Glenorchy City’s Cheryl Nielsenbeck.

In the Women’s B Grade grand final, honours went to Howrah’s Glenda Irvine