Kelsey marks big day with success

Kelsey Cottrell gave herself a 21st birthday present by winning the $10,000 Black Douglas Ladies Masters at South Tweed Bowls Club.

John Gass

IT WAS a fitting end to a wonderful week of bowls with two of the best bowlers in the country meeting in the final of the $10,000 Black Douglas Ladies Masters at South Tweed Bowls Club yesterday.

In an enthralling final which ensured not one of the 300 or so spectators left their seats, Sydney's Kelsey Cottrell added icing to the cake for her 21st birthday celebrations by winning the prestigious event.

The 21-year-old from the powerful St John's Park club, prevailed 25-20 against a fellow Australian representative, Karen Murphy, who represented yet another strong Sydney club, Cabramatta, and was lining up for her third victory in the Black Douglas – she won in 2005 and 2009.

The final was everything everybody associated with the promotion wanted – it brought together the best of the best.

“It was a fitting end to a fabulous week of bowls,” said tournament co-ordinator, Mavis Worner.

“Two of the best bowlers in the country overcame tight matches in their sectional, post sectional and semi-final matches to meet for the major end of the prizemoney.”

And the major end of the prizemoney – $2500 – went to the willowy blonde from St John's who always had her head in front from the opening end.

At one stage, Cottrell led 20-14 and looked like giving everyone watching an “early mark”, but her opponent refused to throw in the towel and fought back from seemingly down and out at 24-17 to trail 24-20 and then in with a winning chance.

Murphy played a superb drive to kill the penultimate end, but Cottrell showed her class by sending down a superbly-weighted bowl on the final end to tip out her rival's toucher which was only centimetres away from pride of place at the head.

Murphy tried another drive on her final bowl, but she was astray, leaving Cottrell to win her second Black Douglas – she previously won the prestigious title as a 17-year-old in 2007.

Class came to the fore at the serious end of the tournament with four previous winners contesting yesterday morning's semi-finals.

Cottrell beat club mate and defending champion, Anne Johns, 25-11 and Murphy won a cliff-hanger against Darra's Maria Rigby (2003), 25-24.

Cottrell earned $2500 for her week's effort and Murphy took home a cheque for $1700 – both cheques were well deserved after a big week of lawn bowls at its best.