2025 National Disability Championships – Masters Preview

By Matt Stevens
June 13, 2025

After nine days of championship bowling, the field is now set for one of the most prestigious moments on the calendar — the National Masters Finals.

Held across three divisions — Open, Classic, and Restricted — the Masters brings together the top performers from the championships in a final battle for national glory at Zone Bowling Morley in Western Australia.

Event Divisions & Eligibility

🟢 Open Masters (Scratch)

  • Open to both male and female bowlers
  • Ranked event for eligible bowlers under the TBA Inclusion Division

🟡 Classic Masters (Handicap)

  • For bowlers with an entering average between 120–159
  • Handicapped event (100% of 200) Open to male and female bowlers
  • Also joins the open division for rankings the Inclusion Division

🔴 Restricted Masters (Handicap)

  • For bowlers with an entering average of 119 and below
  • Handicapped (100% of 200)
  • Open to male and female bowlers

TBA Inclusion Rankings – Final Two Events

The Masters marks the final stop in the TBA Inclusion National Ranked Event Season, which includes:

  1. TBA Inclusion Cup (May 2025) – Won by Kallan Strong & Violet Martinsen
  2. Open/Classic All-Events – Rankings based on combined divisions, finalised for processing after the last squad on Thursday 12 June at 1:45pm
  3. Open/Classic Masters – Final ranking points to be processed prior to stepladder finals

With reigning Inclusion Cup champions Kallan Strong and Violet Martinsen absent from the event, the door is wide open for rising stars to climb the national rankings. Keep an eye on Amanda Threlfall, Pino Mascetti, and AJ Jamal who were podium finishers at the Inclusion Cup and could shake up the standings.

Format: How the Masters Will Be Decided

With qualifying now complete, the top 16 bowlers in each division will return to the lanes today for the Masters Finals.

Qualifying Summary:

  • Qualifying scores were determined by a bowler’s highest 3-game series during the Championships (from Singles or Doubles)
  • State/Territory Masters champions received automatic entry with the remaining spots up to the top 16 filled by top qualifiers

Masters Final Format:

  • 8 Games Total, bowled in 4 blocks of 2 games
    • Open: Scratch scoring
    • Classic & Restricted: Handicapped scoring (100% of 200)
  • Bowlers are ranked by total pinfall (incl. handicap where applicable)

Stepladder Finals:

  • Top 3 in each division advance to the stepladder final
  • Match 1: 3rd vs 2nd
  • Match 2: Winner vs 1st (top seed)
  • If top seed loses Match 2, a deciding match will be played
  • In case of a tie: 9th & 10th frame roll-off

Winners will be crowned 2025 National Masters Champions and will receive:

  • A cash prize (dependent on number of qualifying attempts)
  • An official Masters Champion Shirt (post-event delivery)
  • A champion’s trophy
  • Automatic entry into the 2026 Masters

Defending Champions

  • Open Division: Mitchell Meares (NSW)
  • Classic Division: Harry Woodhouse (NSW)
  • Restricted Division: Britney Gardner-Hudson (QLD)

View the Qualifiers

🟢Open Masters Qualifiers

PositionNameState/Status
1Mitchell MearesDefending Champion from NSW
2Jared KirklandNSW Masters Representative
3Adam SutherlandTAS Masters Representative
4Pino MascettiVIC Masters Representative
5Andrew GebbetisWA Masters Representative
6William MisonQLD
7AJ JamalVIC 
8Nicholas JeffersonQLD
9David HallSA
10David RiddleQLD
11Kaeden NegrinVIC
12Zac MarshallWA  
13Ben MaddenQLD
14Malakai SammutQLD
15TJ StrawQLD
16Tom BrownTAS

Update – Changes to Finalists

Following check-in this morning, there has been one change to the original Open Masters Top 16. South Australian representative David Guerriero V has withdrawn, meaning Tom Brown from Tasmania enters the top 16 field.

🟡Classic Masters Qualifiers

PositionNameState/Status
1Harry WoodhouseDefending Champion from NSW
2Joshua SmithNSW Classic Masters Representative
3Bronx WalshQLD Classic Masters Representative
4Aaron FittkauTAS Classic Masters Representative
5Cameron JohnstonVIC Classic Masters Representative
6Joshua PowellWA Classic Masters Representative
7Owen ThomasWA 
8Kyle FarrellNSW 
9Jonathon KingWA
10Charlotte KingTAS  
11Joseph WareACT
12Stephen FletcherTAS
13Aaron IlesTAS
14Matt BryantNSW
15Joshua BaileyWA
16Timothy WattsWA

🔴Restricted Masters Qualifiers

PositionNameState/Status
1Britney Gardner-HudsonDefending Champion from QLD
2Ryan SmithTAS Restricted Masters Representative
3Ethan GruenVIC Restricted Masters Representative
4Benito AugimeriWA Restricted Masters Represenative
5Aimee SmithNSW
6Nathan PyeACT
7Tegan O’KeeffeQLD
8Dale PotterQLD
9Ian RosenbaumACT
10Madison Gardner-HudsonQLD
11Tracey StevensonQLD
12Wayne RussellNSW
13Christopher BellWA
14Christopher LyonWA
15Sarah BoothACT
16Michael ArgentQLD

Update – Changes to Finalists

A special shout out to Michelle Cook (ACT) and Vlad Dionysiou (NT), who originally qualified 7th and 16th respectively in the Restricted Masters. Both bowlers have withdrawn from the finals, allowing the next in line — Christopher Lyon (WA) and Sarah Booth (ACT) — to move into the top 16 and take their place in the final.

Any changes to the above listed qualifiers for the Open, Classic, and Restricted Masters following check-in this morning, will be communicated on this preview.

Following check-in Update

There has been one more change to the Top 16 in the Restricted Masters final. The 9th highest qualifier from WA Ciara Johnson has withdrawn, meaning Michael Argent has entered the top 16 field.

Tenpin Bowling Australia and the Australian Disabilities Tenpin Incorporated wishes all bowlers the very best of luck and high scoring for the 2025 Masters – may the pins fall in your favour!

NATIONAL DISABILITY CHAMPIONSHIPS HQ
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