2026 TBA Junior Australian Masters Preview
By Matt Stevens
The 2026 TBA Junior Australian Masters arrive at Suncity Tenpin, Alexandra Headland, this week – and with it, the most prestigious title in junior tenpin bowling is on the line. After a weekend of intense championship competitions across fourteen squads, the best junior bowlers in the country have set their qualifying marks. Now the road to the title begins in earnest.
A nationally ranked event and the crown jewel of the junior calendar, the Masters carries weight that goes beyond any single weekend. The names on its past champions list read like a who’s who of Australian bowling. This year’s qualifiers have a chance to write themselves into that history.
This is the first nationally ranked event for the Junior Division in 2026.
What’s at Stake? The 2026 TBA Junior Australian Masters champion in each division takes home a trophy, medallion, 40% of the prize fund, and the right to defend the title at the 2027 event – if eligible. With the Boys field topped by Tyler Clarkson’s 813 qualifying series and Emily Starkey leading the Girls at 650, the stage is set for two days of elite junior competition.
Event Snapshot
- Event: 2026 TBA Junior Australian Masters
- Dates: 14-15 April 2026
- Venue: Suncity Tenpin, Alexandra Headland, QLD
- Divisions: Junior Boys and Junior Girls
- Status: 2026 TBA Nationally Ranked Event
- Edition: 55th edition of the TBA Junior Australian Masters – inaugural event held in 1971 with Brian Hamer (QLD) and Jeanette Baker (VIC) crowned champions.
- Eligibility: 2026 TBA registered junior members who have completed an All-Events entry in the 2026 National Junior Championships
- Defending Champion (Boys): William Zaccaria (VIC)
- Last Years Champion (Girls): Sophie Jones (QLD) – Aged out and not able to defend her title.
Why this event matters
The TBA Junior Australian Masters is the pinnacle of the junior game in Australia. It is a national ranked event in the Junior Division that carries ranking points, and its multi-stage finals format – spanning two days of qualifying, matchplay, and elimination bowling – demanding more of its competitors than other junior competitions. This is not an event where a single hot session wins the title, it rewards the complete junior bowler.
Since its first edition in 1971, the Masters has served as launching pad. Jason Belmonte won the Boys title in 2000 before becoming one of the most decorated bowlers in international history. Carol Gianotti claimed the Girls title in 1984 and went onto become one of Australia’s best. The list of Masters alumni who have gone on to represent Australia at the highest level is long – and the 2026 qualifiers are bowling for a place on it.
Key Storylines to Watch
Zaccaria Chasing Back-to-Back
William Zaccaria (VIC) arrives as the reigning Boys champion after his 2025 title, and has earned his place in the 2026 field on merit – his 645 qualifying series slots him 12th in the Boys field. The defending champion does not arrive with any advantage beyond his guaranteed qualifier spot; he will need to work through Stages 2 and 3 like every other finalist. Back-to-back would make him one of a rare group in the Masters 55-year history. The question is whether he can replicate his 2025 form in a field that includes some of the sharpest junior talent the country has produced.
Clarkson Sets the Tone
Tyler Clarkson (QLD) topped the Boys qualifying field with a 813 Series – 59 pins clear of second-placed Zayne Pirlo (NSW, 754). The achievement was also the first 800 Series of young Tyler’s career. That kind of qualifying margin earns him the top seed into Stage 2, but the Masters format is deliberately designed to reset the field; qualifying pinfall drops at the start of each stage. Clarkson’s challenge is converting early form into finals execution across the next few stages of play.
Emily Starkey Leads a Deep Girls Field
Emily Starkey (QLD) topped the Girls qualifying field with a 650 series and is joined in the field by her sister Hannah Starkey (QLD, 555) – the pair making the Masters a family affair from the Sunshine State. Starkey’s qualifying lead is meaningful but not commanding; second placed Stephanie Jarrott (VIC) sat 36 pins back at 614. Yet, a victory at the Classic Cup has the North Queenslander prime to be a serious contender.
Format
The Masters are contested across four stages.
Qualifying – Completed
Bowlers nominated their best three-game singles or doubles scratch series during the championship squads. State and Territory representatives and defending champions hold guaranteed spots in the top 20 per division.
Stage 2 – Tuesday 14 April
All finalists check in by 8:30AM to bowl 6 games commencing at 9:00AM. Qualifying pinfall drops. Field cuts to the top 16 boys and top 16 girls on total pinfall. The top 4 in each division earn an express pass directly to stage 4. Bowlers ranked 5-16 advance to Stage 3.
Stage 3 – Tuesday 14 April
Bowlers ranked 5-16 from Stage 2 bowl an additional 6 games. Pinfall drops. The top 4 on total pinfall advance to Stage 4. Play commences following the completion of Stage 2.
Stage 4 – Finals (Wednesday 15 April) – The top 4 from Stage 2 rejoin the top 4 from Stage 3 to form a field of 8 in each division. Matches are best-of-3-games in an elimination bracket:
- Quarter Finals – 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5
- Semi-Finals: Commences immediately following Quarter Finals – no re-oil.
- Grand Final: Commences following Semi-Finals with a re-oil prior to start
Seeds 1-4 are the top 4 bowlers on total pinfall from Stage 2. Seeds 5-8 are the top 4 bowlers on total pinfall from Stage 3. Any draws in matchplay are decided by a 9th and 10th frame sudden death until broken – each match must be decided 2-0 or 2-1.
Qualifiers
The top 20 qualifiers as of 13 April are as follows. Please note, this may change depending on check-in and if replacements are called.
Female Division Qualifiers
Male Division Qualifiers
How to follow the event
The 2026 TBA Junior Australian Masters runs across Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 April at Suncity Tenpin, Alexandra Headland. Scoring and results will be available via tenpinresults.com.au and all info including streaming links can be found at www.tenpin.org.au/njc
Stay across tenpin.org.au for coverage throughout the event.
Past Champions
| 1971 | Brian Hamer (Qld) | Jeanette Baker (Vic) |
| 1972 | Peter van Kempen (NSW) | G Maloney (NSW) |
| 1973 | Peter van Kempen (NSW) | Christine Lovelace (NSW) |
| 1974 | Gary Kee (NSW) | Rhonda Zitlaff (Vic) |
| 1975 | Fred Allsopp (NSW) | Margaret Gilmour (Qld) |
| 1976 | Peter Manzo (NSW) | Trish Weir (Qld) |
| 1977 | Charlie Fenech (NSW) | Trish Weir (Qld) |
| 1978 | Craig Bollenhagen (SA) | Kristine Sommers (SA) |
| 1979 | Shane Woods (NSW) | Sue Cassell (NSW) |
| 1980 | Warren Hutt (ACT) | Judy Smythe (Qld) |
| 1981 | Robert Biviano (NSW) | Brenda Hanlon (Tas) |
| 1982 | Stephen Wimbridge (WA) | Karen Yow (NT) |
| 1983 | Jamie Carroll (SA) | Jo-Ellen Day (Qld) |
| 1984 | David Lindley (ACT) | Carol Gianotti (WA) |
| 1985 | Damien Shea (SA) | Karen Graham (SA) |
| 1986 | Russell Hinton (ACT) | Alison Woods (Qld) |
| 1987 | Andrew Drew (Qld) | Jeni Hertrick (Qld) |
| 1988 | Darren Honeysett (NSW) | Julie Jubb (MR) |
| 1989 | Peter McKinnon (SA) | Sharon McLeish (NSW) |
| 1990 | Scott Dickson (ACT) | Danielle McAdam (NSW) |
| 1991 | Anthony Foxford (NSW) | Christine Graham (NSW) |
| 1992 | David Brooker (NSW) | Cherone Gosper (NSW) |
| 1993 | David Brooker (NSW) | Rebecca O’Byrne (NSW) |
| 1994 | Jeremy Sonnenfeld | Maxine Nable (NSW) |
| 1995 | Matthew Riley (Tas) | Bianca Richards (Vic) |
| 1996 | Allan Sutton (Qld) | Joy Hayman (NSW) |
| 1997 | Jason Walsh (NSW) | Stacey Wooler (Qld) |
| 1998 | Brandon Qualischefski (Qld) | Rebecca Simpson (Qld) |
| 1999 | Christopher Warner (NSW) | Jayde Flanagan (Qld) |
| 2000 | Jason Belmonte (NSW) | Tammy Foat (Qld) |
| 2001 | Patrick Egan (NSW) | Kara Proudfoot (Qld) |
| 2002 | Matthew Sing (NSW) | Jayde Flanagan (Qld) |
| 2003 | Ben Coupland (Qld) | Bianca Flanagan (Qld) |
| 2004 | Michael McDonald (NSW) | Tracey Madden (Vic) |
| 2005 | Stephen Cowland (NSW) | Krystal King (Qld) |
| 2006 | Michael Craig (ACT) | Rachelle Flynn (Vic) |
| 2007 | Scott Johnston (NSW) | Rebecca Whiting (Vic) |
| 2008 | Scott Johnston (NSW) | Jessica Garioch (Vic) |
| 2009 | Keryn Delaney (NSW) | Sarah Heath (NSW) |
| 2010 | Adam Svensson (WA) | Chelsea Oliver (WA) |
| 2011 | Tristan Foo (NSW) | Jessica Nicholas (Tas) |
| 2012 | Jake Cromie (NSW) | Katrina Carr (Qld) |
| 2013 | Jake Otago (Qld) | Katey Furze (Qld) |
| 2014 | Elliott Batiste (Vic) | Shanita Clark (NSW) |
| 2015 | Blayne Fletcher (Qld) | Tegan Ihnativ (NSW) |
| 2016 | Jackson Botham (NSW) | Rebekah Commane (Vic) |
| 2017 | Kyle Annetts (QLD) | Rebekah Commane (Vic) |
| 2018 | Jordan Dinham (NSW) | Nikaylah Spofforth (Vic) |
| 2019 | Tarkyn Percy (SA) | Grace Fahy (VIC) |
| 2021 | Jack Colmer (QLD) | Emily Hart (SA) |
| 2022 | Ben Pettit (NZ) | Jessica Marginson (NZ) |
| 2023 | Sam Coombs (NSW) | Shanae Key (VIC) |
| 2024 | Lachlan Howse (QLD) | Emily Hart (SA) |
| 2025 | William Zaccaria (VIC) | Sophie Jones (QLD) |
Multiple-Time Champions
| Peter van Kempson (NSW) | 1972 & 1973 |
| Trish Weir (QLD) | 1976 & 1977 |
| David Brooker (NSW) | 1992 & 1993 |
| Jayde Flanagan (QLD) | 1999 & 2002 |
| Scott Johnston (NSW) | 2007 & 2008 |
| Rebekah Commane (VIC) | 2016 & 2017 |
| Emily Hart (SA) | 2021 & 2024 |
2026 TBA Junior Division Rankings Schedule
- TBA Junior Australian Masters: April 14-15
- QLD Junior Cup: 1-4 May
- Junior Sydney Cup: TBD
- Louise Eady Melbourne Junior Cup: 26-27 September
