Glenn Pauling and Scott Walker are the sole South Perth duo to progress through the sectional phase of the 2016 Australian Open.
Drawn at Robina, they defeated P Wirth and T Blow (19-10) and C Vlastaras and S Liverage (21-13) before surviving some anxious moments in their final qualifying game. A loss to R Norquay and D Redman (14-18) was good enough to see them progress through to the 128-team knockout stage.
At the same venue Neale Griffin and Rob Campbell started slowly losing to M Vaughn and Ash (11-17). Subsequent wins against J Showler and E Ryan (17-15) and fellow west Aussies T Reid and J Krstic (26-6) saw them finish second in their section and short of the required shots up needed to claim one of twenty next best spots into the knockout stage.
Also starting slowly were Greg Reagan and Ken Pride who graced Club Benowa with their presence. A loss to T Clark and T Smith (9-20) was followed by a convincing win over L Court and J Webb (24-9). That left a last-round showdown with section leaders M Abonnel and G White but the South Perth combination came up short (10-17).
At Coolangatta Adrian Durrant and Ryan Havercroft began with a victory over P Armistead and K Coughlin (22-11). The Miller duo were holding game with one bowl to play in their next encounter with J Walker and S Chapman but were pipped (15-16). Needing a five-shot win over the undefeated T Pappas and D Roper, a slow start saw their chances slip away (10-23).
It was good to see One White Premier player and now Brisbane-based Robert Campbell back in the green, red and white once more. Soon he leaves for India and he goes with the best wishes of the South Perth Bowling Club.