The Queensland Ladies Classic returns to Caboolture Bowl this weekend for its 27^th edition, with one of the most prestigious titles in the TBA Women’s Division up for grabs – and a brand-new finals format that reshapes how the champion will be decided.

Caboolture Bowl in Morayfield plays host on 16-17 May 2026, with $7,750 in prize money on the line and $1,500 going to the 2026 Queensland Ladies Classic Champion. After Samantha Clifton’s breakthrough victory in 2025, the field returns to one of the longest-running women’s events on the Australian calendar – an event that has been contested since 1999.

Event Snapshot

• Event: 2026 Queensland Ladies Classic
• Dates: 16-17 May 2026
• Venue: Caboolture Bowl, Morayfield, QLD
• Division: Women’s
• Status: 2026 TBA National Ranked Event (A26/0123)
• Edition: 27th Edition
• Prize Fund: $7,750 (based on 36 entries)

Why this event matters

The Queensland Ladies Classic has been a fixture on the women’s calendar for more than a quarter of a century. From Kirstie Mills’ inaugural win in 1999, the event has crowned a who’s-who of Australian women’s bowling – Kelly Warren’s three-peat in the early 2000’s, Ann Maree Putney’s three titles across the mid-2000’s, and Bec Whiting’s six-title era of dominance through the 2010’s.

In 2025, the story was Samantha Clifton – the then-19-year-old from NSW who became the youngest Open Division champion in the event’s history, denying Whiting a record-extending seventh title in a clutch grand final.

This year, the QLC arrives with a refreshed format and a familiar question: who steps up next?

Key Storylines to Watch

A New Finals Format

The most significant change for 2026 is the move away from the McIntyre Footy Finals bracket that defined recent editions. In its place, the Top 8 will now contest a 7-game matchplay round robin, with 20 bonus pins for a win and 10 for a draw. Pinfall from qualifying and Stage 2 does not carry into the matchplay – meaning every bowler in the Top 8 starts the finals on equal footing. It’s a format that rewards consistency under pressure across a full afternoon of bowling, rather than survive-and-advance bracket nerves.

Can Clifton Defend?

Samantha Clifton arrives at Caboolture as the reigning champion – and a year on from her breakthrough, she has only built on the platform that her 2025 QLC win provided. The smooth right-hander out of Dullboys Social Co. in Warners Bay has continued to feature among the elite young talents in Australian women’s bowling, and a successful defence would put her in rare company at this event.

No Shortage of Hopes

Two-time champion Alicia Melton bowls at her home centre and will be looking to add to her 2012 and 2024 titles.  Alicia leads the Women’s Division rankings after two events on 165 points with Jamie Phelan (128) and Siarn Ottaviano (105) close behind and also present at this weekend’s event.

Alicia joins Samantha Clifton (2025), Emma Walsh (2015) and Rebekah Martin (2016, 2023) as four past champions that will be bowling this weekend.

Format

Qualifying (Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 May)

All bowlers contest 12 games of scratch pinfall qualifying – 8 games on Saturday followed by 4 games on Sunday morning. Pinfall carries throughout qualifying. The Top 12 by total pinfall advance to Stage 2.

Stage 2 – Top 12 (Sunday 17 May)

The Top 12 qualifiers bowl a further 4 games with pinfall carried from qualifying. The Top 8 after Stage 2 advance to the Finals.

Finals – Top 8 (Sunday 17 May)

The Top 8 contest a 7-game matchplay round robin to decide the champion. 20 bonus pins for a win, 10 bonus pins for a draw. Pinfall from previous stages does not carry into matchplay – all finalists start on equal footing. The bowler with the highest total pinfall (including bonuses) after 7 matches is crowned the 2026 Queensland Ladies Classic Champion.

Schedule

Lanes will be oiled before each qualifying squad and before Stage 2. No re-oil prior to Finals.

How to follow the event

The 2026 Queensland Ladies Classic runs Saturday 16 May and Sunday 17 May at Caboolture Bowl, 207 Morayfield Road, Morayfield, QLD, 4506. Live streaming will be available via CabBowl Live on YouTube, scoring via TenpinResults. Admission is free for spectators.

Past Champions

2026 TBA Women’s Division Rankings Schedule

1. Suncity Women’s Open – COMPLETED
2. VIC 150 – COMPLETED
3. Queensland Ladies Classic: 16-17 May
4. TBA National Masters – TBD
5. NSW Open: 9-11 October