Grand Prix shock as seeds fall early

Reigning Commonwealth Gold Medalist Siti Zalina Ahmad Photo courtesy of Bowls Australia

The first day of the Helensvale Grand Prix produced shockwaves through the Bowls Australia selection panel as the top seeds in the ladies singles fell "like 9 pins" in the first two rounds.

Seeded No 1 and the reigning Australian Open champion Roma Dunn went down in straight sets 6/6:8/3 to Queensland qualifier Brenda Thompson.

Karen Murphy, tipped to go well in this tournament, also suffered at the hands of another qualifier Genelita Nagy 13/3:6/7:0/2.

In the afternoon rounds second seed Maria Rigby crashed out with out making a splash losing 7/11:1/14 to Ester Regan.

Reigning Indoor Singles Champion Claire Duke, seeded fourth is the highest seed left and in fact only two of the top ten Bowls Australia seeds have made it through to the last eight.

Reigning Commonwealth Gold Medalist Siti Zalina Ahmad qualified on the weekend and has won through to the last eight and on paper looks the player to beat.

The finals of the Ladies Singles and the Mens Singles will be over the Internet on a LIVE scoreboard – updated every end on Thursday June 23 on the Tweed Heads Bowls Club website.

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