SUE CLEANS UP STARS IN RUN TO SEMI-FINAL
A QUEENSLAND rep from the Atherton Tablelands in north Queensland has turned the Australian Open women’s singles bowls title race upside down.
Sue Brady, 59, is threatening to put the once national tobacco capital of Mareeba back on the map through performances in the world’s biggest tournament.
Brady has had a remarkable giant-killing run after getting through the sectional qualifying play.
In the round of 32 she eliminated 2016 runner-up Dee-Anne Robertson (Broadbeach) 21-15 and defending champion Natasha Scott (Raymond Terrace) lost to Brady 21-20 in the round of 16.
In the quarter-finals it was 2009 Open champion Kelsey Cottrell (St Johns Park) who bit the dust in a 21-12 defeat.
And she has good friend Robertson to thank.
“I’m actually staying at her place and I’m using a set of her bowls,” Brady said.
“So I guess I’ve bitten the hand that feeds me – that’s gratitude for you.”
Brady said her run of successes has been on the back of fine draw bowling, getting the bowls close to the kitty when it mattered most.
Ahead of Brady, who has won Queensland champion of champions titles in 2004, 2005 and 2011, is a semi-final against Gold Coast hope Georgia White (Club Helensvale).
All going well, it is on to the Open final where $13,000 awaits the winner.
In the opposite side of the women’s draw to Brady is young star Ellen Ryan (Cabramatta) who is the only current Jackaroos squad member left in the women’s singles.
Ryan won the Open singles as an 18-year-old in 2015 and will play South African Elma Davis in the other semi tomorrow from 11.45am at Club Helensvale.
The carnage was not restricted to the women.
The men’s singles is down to the last 16 and quarterfinals are on tonight at Broadbeach without defending champion Aron Sherriff and runner-up Brett Wilkie.
Only two current Jackaroos members remain in the fight – Nathan Rice (Helensvale) and South Australian Wayne Ruediger.
Another local hope is Adam Liddell from Paradise Point.
The women’s final is set for Thursday at Broadbeach and the men’s final is on at the same venue on Friday.