The 2025 Hammer Queensland Senior Classic Recap
By Matt Stevens
The first champions of the 2025 tournament season were crowned this weekend at the Hammer Queensland Senior Classic, with Queensland’s George Frilingos claiming the men’s title and Dena Buxton earning her second Hammer crown in the women’s division. The event delivered high drama and impressive scores, including a perfect game, setting an exciting tone for the year ahead.
Celebrating its 21st edition, the tournament upheld its familiar format, introduced in 2018, with bowlers competing over 18 games. The format featured a 10-game opening block followed by an 8-game finale to determine the champions.
This year’s event welcomed a strong field of 132 competitors—39 women and 93 men—showcasing the depth and talent of senior bowlers from across the country. The high participation reinforced the Hammer Queensland Senior Classic’s reputation as one of the premier stops on the senior division calendar.
Both divisions shared a common storyline, as George and Dena delivered consistent, dominant performances across both appearances, maintaining their top positions to secure well-deserved victories.
FEMALE DIVISION CHAMPION – DENA BUXTON
Returning to the Hammer Queensland Senior Classic after missing last year’s event, Victorian bowler Dena Buxton quickly reasserted her dominance. The 2023 champion wasted no time in reminding the competition what it takes to win, starting her first block with a sizzling opening trio of 223, 265, and 201.
Dena’s strong start propelled her to the top of the leaderboard after the first appearance, finishing with a pinfall of 1,899 and an average of 209.88. Six of her ten games surpassed the 200-mark, giving her a slight edge over TBA Hall of Famer Sue Cassell (1,884) and Western Australian Samantha Matthews (1,831).
In her second appearance, Dena demonstrated the physical and mental toughness demanded by the event’s format. Despite a modest opening game of 185, she quickly regained momentum, stringing together four consecutive games above 200. Maintaining her composure under pressure, Dena recorded five of eight games above 200 in her second block, extending her lead and solidifying her position at the top.
Dena finished the tournament with a total pinfall of 3,742 and an impressive average of 207.9, raising the Hammer Queensland Senior Classic trophy for the second time in three years. The podium was rounded out by Sue Cassell in second place (3,647) and Samantha Matthews in third (3,564).
Dena’s victory not only sets a high benchmark for the season but also reinforces her status as a dominant force in the senior division. Having been named the highest-ranked senior female bowler for the past two years, she remains a competitor to watch in 2025.
Winning Numbers – Dena Buxton
Appearance 1 – 10 games – 209.88 avg
| 223 | 265 | 201 | 182 | 179 |
| 186 | 247 | 248 | 158 | 234 |
Appearance 2 – 8 games – 230.38 avg
| 185 | 225 | 225 | 205 |
| 215 | 178 | 214 | 172 |
| HIGH GAME | 265 |
| TOTAL PINFALL | 3,742 |
| AVERAGE | 207.9 |
| 200+ GAMES | 11/18 |
MALE DIVISION CHAMPION – GEORGE FRILINGOS
Queenslander George Frilingos delivered a masterclass in tenpin bowling to claim the male division title at the 2025 Hammer Queensland Senior Classic. Across 18 games, George showcased precision, power, and consistency, amassing an extraordinary total pinfall of 4,227—the highest since 2018—to secure the title in dominant fashion.
George’s first appearance set the tone for the tournament with an impressive opening trio of 216, 235, and 218. However, it was Game 4 that became the defining moment of the event, as George electrified the venue by rolling a perfect 300 game.
A seasoned Australian representative with a decorated career, George celebrated his 300 game (his 47th in his career) with quiet confidence, a clear indication that he had even bigger ambitions for the weekend. He continued his first appearance with unrelenting high scores, never dipping below 200. By the end of the 10-game block, George had posted a staggering pinfall of 2,422, averaging an incredible 242.2 and firmly establishing himself as the man to beat.
If his first block was a statement of dominance, his second was a testament to composure and consistency. George began Day 2 with a solid 227 and, despite a slight dip to 197 in Game 2, quickly regained his stride. He delivered five consecutive 200+ games to close out the block, including standout scores of 245 and 247. His consistency and focus underlined the experience and skill that have made him one of Australia’s premier bowlers.
George finished the tournament with a commanding total pinfall of 4,227, averaging 234.8 across 18 games. His remarkable performance left him 186 pins clear of his nearest competitor, 2021 winner Carl Bottomley (4,041), with Andrew Lloyd rounding out the podium in third place (3,977).
Winning Numbers – George Frilingos
Appearance 1 – 10 games – 242.2 avg
| 216 | 235 | 218 | 300 | 237 |
| 279 | 249 | 216 | 206 | 266 |
Appearance 2 – 8 games – 225.6 avg
| 227 | 197 | 226 | 245 |
| 222 | 247 | 224 | 217 |
| HIGH GAME | 300 |
| TOTAL PINFALL | 4,227 |
| AVERAGE | 234.8 |
| 200+ GAMES | 17/18 |
GRAND SENIOR DIVISION
Heather Robertson (QLD) and Lawrie Hill (QLD) claimed top honours in the Grand Senior Division, showcasing their skill and composure across the 18-game format.
Heather Robertson delivered a solid performance, finishing with a total pinfall of 3,402. She edged out fellow Australian representative team members Julie Harrison (3,196) and Robyn Bull (3,113) to secure the title in the women’s division.
In the men’s division, local Caboolture bowler Lawrie Hill surged in his second appearance to claim victory with a total pinfall of 3,776. Hill’s strong finish saw him surpass Jim Bakirtzidis (3,716) and Geoff Mure (3,703) in a tightly contested race for the podium.
TOP PERFORMERS & STATS
High Game
- Male Division: 300 – George Frilingos
- Female Division: 265 – Dena Buxton
Top 10 Female Division
- Dena Buxton (VIC) – 3,742
- Sue Cassell (QLD) – 3,647
- Samantha Matthews (WA) – 3,564
- Madeline FitzRoy (QLD) – 3,557
- Mary Dodds (VIC) – 3,551
- Jo Babic (SA) – 3,504
- Tracy Turoczi (QLD) – 3,446
- Heather Robertson (QLD) – 3,402
- Kellie Hart (QLD) – 3,399
- Gayle Howell-Carmichael (QLD) – 3,398
Top 10 Male Division
- George Frilingos (QLD) – 4,227
- Carl Bottomley (QLD) – 4,041
- Andrew Lloyd (NSW) – 3,977
- Tony Hamilton (QLD) – 3,964
- Graeme Morgan (QLD) – 3,953
- Chris Bateup (NSW) – 3,928
- Mick Talevski (VIC) – 3,908
- Damien McAndrew (QLD) – 3,902
- Ashley Riley (TAS) – 3,898
- Bruno Maglieri (NT) – 3,895
Top 10 Grand Senior Female Division
- Heather Robertson (QLD) – 3,402
- Julie Harrison (NSW) – 3,196
- Robyn Bull (VIC) – 3,113
- Kerry Kennedy (VIC)– 2,960
- Cherylynn Cowan (NT) – 2,861
- Nola Findlay (QLD) – 2,830
- Vivienne Bissell (QLD) – 2,828
- Jeanne Kieseker (VIC) – 2,435
- Fely Shih (WA) – 2,287
Top 10 Grand Senior Male Division
- Lawrie Hill (QLD) – 3,776
- Jim Bakirtzidis (NSW) – 3,716
- Geoff Mure (QLD) – 3,703
- David Farquharson (VIC) – 3,642
- Andrew Campbell (ACT) – 3,608
- Robert Godwin (NSW) – 3,582
- Chris Benson Snr (VIC) – 3,534
- Brian Lynch (QLD) – 3,517
- Brian Robinson (QLD)– 3,492
- Jim Karakostas (NSW) – 3,470
THANK YOU!
A heartfelt thank you to all the bowlers who competed this weekend, making the 21st edition of the Hammer Queensland Senior Classic a truly memorable event. Special gratitude goes to the staff and management at Caboolture Bowl for their exceptional support and hospitality throughout the tournament.
A particular acknowledgment to proprietor Brian Bates and his dedicated team, who worked tirelessly in the weeks leading up to the event. Despite delays in the arrival of new machines, their extraordinary efforts and many late nights ensured the tournament ran smoothly and successfully.
Events like this thrive because of the dedication and passion of everyone involved—from the organisers and volunteers to the spectators who helped create an incredible atmosphere. Thank you for your contributions to the event’s success.
FUTURE FRAMES
The 21st edition of the Hammer Queensland Senior Classic is now in the books, and what a way to kick off the 2025 Senior Ranked Event season it was. While the winning performances were dominating, the season is just getting started, with four more events offering plenty of opportunities for competitors to claim titles and make their mark.
Next on the calendar is the highly anticipated John Sullivan Senior Australian Open. Already sold out with two squads of 56 bowlers in each, this prestigious event will take place from March 21 at Wyncity Keon Park in Victoria, promising another thrilling chapter in the senior division’s 2025 season.
Rankings Process
Provisional rankings for the event will be processed shortly. Once processed, bowlers will have one week to raise any enquiries with TBA before the rankings are deemed confirmed. All participants will receive an email notice with the provisional rankings following the first event of their division.
THE HAMMER QLD SENIOR CLASSIC
CHAMPIONS LIST
| Year | Male | Female |
| 2005 | Gary Bernardin | Jeanette Baker |
| 2006 | Lawrie Hill | Jeanette Baker |
| 2007 | Mike Sullivan | Jeanette Baker |
| 2008 | Terry Wenban | Jeanette Baker |
| 2009 | Tony Stoppel | Robyn Flynn |
| 2010 | Garry Crick | Robyn Flynn |
| 2011 | Graeme Morgan | Christine Webster |
| 2012 | Graeme Morgan | Jeanette Baker |
| 2013 | Warren Stewart | Heather Robertson |
| 2014 | Jim Bakirtzidis | Christine Clark |
| 2015 | Steven Smith | Christine Clark |
| 2016 | Bob Whybrow | Christine Clark |
| 2017 | Craig Pearsall | Tracey Crisp |
| 2018 | Andrew Thorpe | Julie Harrison |
| 2019 | Tony Hamilton | Julie Harrison |
| 2020 | Tony Hamilton | Sue Cassell |
| 2021 | Carl Bottomley | Sue Cassell |
| 2022 | Tony Hamilton | Sue Cassell |
| 2023 | Andrew Drew | Dena Buxton |
| 2024 | Ashley Riley | Samantha Matthews |
| 2025 | George Frilingos | Dena Buxton |
