2024 TBA50 National Masters Preview
By Matt Stevens
For the second consecutive year, the AGL National High Performance Centre on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, will host the Tenpin Bowling Australia National Senior Championships. The event, running from 21–27 November 2024, promises a week of exciting competition.
This year’s championships feature two marquee events:
- TBA50 National Masters
- TBA50 National Teams Challenge
Kicking things off tomorrow is the TBA50 National Masters, a premier event now in its 38th edition.
TBA50 National Masters Overview
The TBA50 National Masters serves as the fifth and final event in the 2024 TBA Senior and Grand Senior nationally ranked calendar. This storied tournament will determine champions for both divisions, finalise the 2024 rankings, and act as a National Training Squad selection trial for the NTS50 and NTS65 squads. The top four performers will earn automatic entry into next year’s National Training Squads.
With so much at stake, the best senior bowlers in Australia will compete across two separate lane patterns, designed to challenge their skill and adaptability. Over three days of competition starting Friday, 22 November, the schedule is as follows:
- Qualifying:
All participants will bowl 12 games across two appearances (6 games on each pattern). - Stage 2:
The Top 16 bowlers in each division will advance, playing an additional 4 games, with pinfall carried forward. This stage narrows the field to the top 8. - Stage 3 – Matchplay Finals:
The final 8 bowlers will compete in a 7-game matchplay round, with 20 bonus pins for a win and 10 for a tie. Total pinfall (including bonuses) will determine the 2024 TBA50 National Masters Champions.
Defending Champions & Contenders
Defending champions Dena Buxton and Tony Hamilton are back to defend their titles. They’ll face stiff competition from Australia’s top-ranked senior bowlers, including Samantha Matthews and Ashley Riley, who are eager to cap off their seasons with a victory.
In the Senior Rankings, both the female and male divisions remain highly competitive, with the top six ranked bowlers in each still in contention for the season crown.
- Grand Senior Rankings:
- Women: Julie Harrison leads with 300 points, closely followed by Heather Robertson with 225.
- Men: David Farquharson tops the table with 280 points, trailed by Jim Bakirtzidis (260) and Jim Karakostas (205).
What’s at Stake
By Sunday afternoon, the 2024 TBA50 National Masters will:
- Crown its male and female champions in the senior and grand senior divisions.
- Confirm the first four members of the 2025 NTS50 and NTS65 squads.
- Finalise the 2024 rankings for Senior and Grand Senior divisions.
It’s shaping up to be an unforgettable weekend of high-stakes bowling!
Tenpin Bowling Australia wishes all bowlers the best of luck and high scores as they take to the lanes.
TBA50 NATIONAL MASTERS
PAST CHAMPIONS
| Year | Men | Women |
| 1986 | John Zoratti (ACT) | Muriel Smith (QLD) |
| 1987 | John Zoratti (ACT) | Muriel Smith (QLD) |
| 1988 | Graham Bacon (NSW) | B. Pauschmann (NSW) |
| 1989 | Graham Bacon (NSW) | Lillian Bruce (NSW) |
| 1990 | John Zoratti (ACT) | P. Thompson (QLD) |
| 1991 | Keith Caddy (NSW) | Margaret Condon (QLD) |
| 1992 | Keith Caddy (NSW) | June Marks (NSW) |
| 1993 | Ron Gray (NSW) | June Marks (NSW) |
| 1994 | George | June Marks (NSW) |
| 1995 | Ian Castle (VIC) | Dawn Hall (WA) |
| 1996 | Bob Bruce (SA) | Renato Maglieri (NT) |
| 1997 | Renzo Pellegrini (SA) | Joan Dillon (NSW) |
| 1998 | Brian May (QLD) | Bev Freestone (NSW) |
| 1999 | Barry Lonsdale (NSW) | Ronnie Petersen (NT) |
| 2000 | Stephen Bell (VIC) | Penny Strik (NSW) |
| 2001 | Jeff Elliott (SA) | Maxine Forrest (WA) |
| 2002 | Kevin Quinn (NSW) | Maxine Forrest (WA) |
| 2003 | Allan Smith (NSW) | Cecily Walton (NSW) |
| 2004 | Rod Stewart (VIC) | Sue Raphael (VIC) |
| 2005 | Brian Looby (QLD) | Barbara Richmond (QLD) |
| 2006 | Vaughan White (QLD) | Jeanette Baker (VIC) |
| 2007 | Ray Krueger (ACT) | Christene Webster (QLD) |
| 2008 | Fred Housham (NZ) | Jeanette Baker (VIC) |
| 2009 | Mike Kennedy (VIC) | Jeanette Baker (VIC) |
| 2010 | Tony Stoppel (SA) | Julie Hird (NSW) |
| 2011 | Paul Terry (WA) | Jeanette Baker (VIC) |
| 2012 | Kevin Webb (NSW) | Julie Hird (QLD) |
| 2013 | Chris Kirwin (NT) | Jeanette Baker (VIC) |
| 2014 | Andrew Frawley (NSW) | Jeanette Baker (VIC) |
| 2015 | Andrew Frawley (NSW) | Julie Harrison (QLD) |
| 2016 | Chris Kirwin (NT) | Julie Harrison (QLD) |
| 2017 | Mick Talevski (VIC) | Jeanette Baker (VIC) |
| 2018 | Greg Nicolas (NZ) | Jeanette Baker (VIC) |
| 2019 | Andrew Lloyd (NSW) | Cheryl Womack (QLD) |
| 2021 | Morty Douglass (QLD) | Jo Babic (SA) |
| 2022 | Andrew Lloyd (NSW) | Jenny Burton-Douglas (ACT) |
| 2023 | Tony Hamilton (QLD) | Dena Buxton (VIC) |
| 2024 | ? | ? |
