2026 Australian Open Recap
By Tenpin Bowling Australia
Dinham Does It Again: Julian Claims Back-to-Back Australian Open Title
Julian Dinham has done what no one could stop him from doing – the New South Wales star has claimed back-to-back Australian Open titles, dominating the 50th edition of the event from start to finish at Wyncity Keon Park in Thomastown, Victoria across the Easter long weekend.
In a performance that mirrored his stunning 2025 victory in almost every way, Dinham led from the opening session, never relinquished top spot, and finished with a commanding 7,411 pin total across all 31 games – averaging 235.2 for the event. The victory cements his status as one of the most dominant bowlers in the Open Division and writes his name into the 50th edition of this historic event.
At A Glance
| Event | 2026 Australian Open |
| Dates | 3-5 April 2026 |
| Venue | Wyncity Keon Park, Victoria |
| Division | Open Division |
| Status | 2026 TBA Nationally Ranked Event |
| Edition | 50th |
| 2026 Champion | Julian Dinham (NSW) |
| Full Results | View Here |
Overview
The 50th edition of the Australian Open – one of the great landmarks in the domestic game – delivered a historic weekend at Wyncity Keon Park. A 110-strong field descended on Thomastown across two squads for 31 games of competition across three days, with $4,000, a trophy, and free entry to the 2027 event on the line for the champion.
The event had long been framed around a central question: could anyone stop Julian Dinham going back-to-back? After 31 games, the answer was clear.
Results
Open Division
Podium
| Position | Athlete | Bowl | State |
| 🥇 | Julian Dinham | Bowlarama Wetherill Park | NSW |
| 🥈 | Liam Cochrane | Bowland Salisbury | SA |
| 🥉 | Jordan Dinham | Bowlarama Wetherill Park | NSW |
Dinham set the tone immediately, leading the field after Stage 1 qualifying with 3,811 pins at a 238.2 average – 289 pins clear of his nearest challenge at that point, older brother Jordan Dinham.
Stage 2 only reinforced the gap; Julian extended his lead to the top of the 20-man field with 5,188 pins, his closest pursuer Bernie Grueso Jnr (4,892) unable to bridge the deficit.
In matchplay, Dinham was similarly commanding – winning six of nine matches to close out the title with a combined total of 7,411 pins. He becomes one of a handful of bowlers in the event’s 50-year history to win back-to-back Australian Open titles, joining Joe Vello (1974 & 1975), Cara Honeychurch (2001, 2002, 2003), Sam Cooley (2016, 2018, 2019), and Adam Hayes (2022 and 2023).
Liam Cochrane (SA) was a standout story of the matchplay stage, converting six wins from nine matches to claim a strong runner-up result with 6,983 pins after sitting fifth at the conclusion of the second stage. Jordan Dinham – Julian’s older brother – rounded out the podium in third with 6,903, also taking six matchplay wins in a tightly contested fight for the minor places.
Performance Highlights
A special mention for the Dinham Family: Julian, Jordan, and Justin Dinham all finished in the Top 10 at the 50th Australian Open – an extraordinary result for any family in any national event.
HIGH GAMES
300 – Adam Hayes (Stage 2, followed by a 289)
Top 10 Standings
Open Division
| BOWLER | PINS | AVERAGE |
|---|---|---|
| Julian Dinham (NSW) | 7,411 | 235.2 |
| Liam Cochrane (SA) | 6,983 | 221.4 |
| Jordan Dinham (NSW) | 6,903 | 218.8 |
| Adam Hayes (VIC) | 6,827 | 216.4 |
| Bernie Grueso Jnr (VIC) | 6,794 | 216.6 |
| Justin Dinham (NSW) | 6,707 | 213.8 |
| Kyle Richardson (VIC) | 6,703 | 213.0 |
| Jackson Morgan (VIC) | 6,602 | 211.0 |
| Ben Allison (TAS) | 6,520 | 209.4 |
| Bruce Mason (VIC) | 6,493 | 207.2 |
Acknowledgements
Tenpin Bowling Australia congratulates Julian Dinham on his back-to-back Australian Open titles and thanks Wyncity Keon Park for hosting a memorable 50th edition of the event. Thanks also to all tournament officials, volunteers, and every competitor who made the trip to Thomastown for what was a fitting celebration of five decades of the Australian Open.
Past Champions
| 1972 | Ken Sheehan (Qld) |
| 1973 | Steve Mackie (NSW) |
| 1974 | Joe Velo (NSW) |
| 1975 | Joe Velo (NSW) |
| 1976 | Vic Bubniw (Vic) |
| 1977 | Eric Thompson (Vic) |
| 1978 | |
| 1979 | |
| 1980 | |
| 1981 | |
| 1982 | Ken Watson (NSW) |
| 1983 | John Sullivan (Vic) |
| 1984 | Steve Lovell (NSW) |
| 1985 | Len Hogg (Vic) |
| 1986 | Steve Lovell (NSW) |
| 1987 | Len Hogg (Vic) |
| 1988 | John Sullivan (Vic) |
| 1989 | Sam Romeo (NSW) |
| 1990 | Brenton Davy (SA) |
| 1991 | Mark Ramsay (Qld) |
| 1992 | Terry Wenban (NSW) |
| 1993 | Ian Bradford (Vic) |
| 1994 | Sam Romeo (NSW) |
| 1995 | Paulo Valdez (Philippines) |
| 1996 | Carl Bottomley (Qld) |
| 1997 | Frank Ryan (Vic) |
| 1998 | Anthony Flynn (Vic) |
| 1999 | Carl Bottomley (Qld) |
| 2000 | Matthew Riley (Tas) |
| 2001 | Cara Honeychurch (Vic) |
| 2002 | Cara Honeychurch (Vic) |
| 2003 | Cara Honeychurch (Vic) |
| 2004 | Brandon Qualischefski (Qld) |
| 2005 | Michael Little (NSW) |
| 2006 | David Porto (Vic) |
| 2007 | George Frilingos (Qld) |
| 2008 | Matt Riley (NSW) |
| 2009 | Dominic Barrett (England) |
| 2010 | Paul Trotter (Vic) |
| 2011 | Jason Belmonte (NSW) |
| 2012 | Ben Coupland (NSW) |
| 2013 | David Porto (Vic) |
| 2014 | Glen Loader (NSW) |
| 2015 | Michael Little (NSW) |
| 2016 | Sam Cooley (NSW) |
| 2017 | Jarrod Langford (QLD) |
| 2018 | Sam Cooley (NSW) |
| 2019 | Sam Cooley (NSW) |
| 2020 | |
| 2021 | David Porto (VIC) |
| 2022 | Adam Hayes (VIC) |
| 2023 | Adam Hayes (VIC) |
| 2024 | Bernie Grueso Jnr (VIC) |
| 2025 | Julian Dinham (NSW) |
| 2026 | Julian Dinham (NSW) |
Multiple-Time Champions
| Joe Velo (NSW) | 1974 & 1975 |
| John Sullivan (VIC) | 1983 & 1988 |
| Steve Lovell (NSW) | 1984 & 1986 |
| Len Hogg (VIC) | 1985 & 1987 |
| Sam Romeo (NSW) | 1989 & 1994 |
| Carl Bottomley (QLD) | 1996 & 1999 |
| Matt Riley (NSW) | 2000 & 2008 |
| Cara Honeychurch (VIC) | 2001, 2002, & 2003 |
| David Porto (VIC) | 2006, 2013, & 2021 |
| Michael Little (NSW) | 2005 & 2015 |
| Sam Cooley (NSW) | 2016, 2018, & 2019 |
| Adam Hayes (VIC) | 2022 & 2023 |
| Julian Dinham (NSW) | 2025 & 2026 |
