High Performance

Daily Recap 4: Australia Shines in Reno with Five Medals on Day 4 at World Seniors Championships

By Matt Stevens

October 21, 2025

The 2025 IBF World Seniors Championships rolled on from the National Bowling Stadium in Reno today, with the Teams event wrapping up and All-Events standings locked in.

Grand Senior Men

After leading the field overnight on a total of 2,377, Australia’s Grand Senior Men entered Day 2 with one goal – secure a top-four finish and a ticket to the semi-finals.

It was a shaky start, with only Jim Bakirtzidis finding his groove early (212) as the team posted their lowest game of the event, a 650. But true to form, the Aussies bounced back immediately – firing a 773 in Game 2 behind Bakirtzidis (204) and David Farquharson (202).

That momentum carried into the final game, where Andrew Campbell stepped up with a 211, while Farquharson backed it up with another 200+ game (204). The strong finish gave the team a closing total of 4,585 – enough to secure second place overall and a well-deserved semi-final berth as the number two seed.

Athlete	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Total
Jim Bakirtzidis	212	204	192	1214
Andrew Campbell	147	170	211	1064
David Farquharson	168	202	204	1186
Jim Karakostas	123	197	178	1121
TOTAL	650	773	785	4585

Finals

The format changes for the finals of the team event from traditional scoring to baker scoring best of three series.

The Grand Senior Men added to Australia’s medal tally with a well-earned Bronze, following a hard-fought semi-final battle against Mexico that went the distance.

In a best-of-three showdown, Mexico took the opening game 217-181 before the Aussies hit back strongly in Game 2, levelling the match with a composed 197-176 win. The decider saw momentum swing back Mexico’s way, as they closed out the series 232-198 to advance, leaving Australia to proudly claim bronze after another consistent and competitive campaign.

Game 1 – Mexico defeats Australia 217-181
Game 2 – Australia defeats Mexico 197-176
Game 3 – Mexico defeats Australia 232-198

All Events

In the All-events standings, three Aussies qualified for the Masters after strong and steady performances across the week.

David Farquharson came heartbreakingly close to another medal, finishing just outside the All-Events podium in 4^th place with an 18-game total of 3,583. He’ll be joined in the Masters by Jim Bakirtzidis (3,502, 10^th) and Jim Karakostas (3,500,11^th)

Athlete	Total	Position
David Farquharson	3583	4^th
Jim Bakirtzidis	3502	10^th
Jim Karakostas	3500	11^th
Andrew Campbell	3306	37^th

Senior Men

After sitting in 13^th place overnight on 2,307, Australia’s Senior Men returned to the lanes determined to lift their standings and lock in strong All-Events totals.

The team got off to a flyer, with three 200+ games in the opening effort led by Adam Hayes’ 224, setting the tone for a 789 start. Hayes stayed hot in Game 2 with another 200+ effort (211), though the team couldn’t quite match his pace, posting a 754.

The best, however, was saved for last. Hayes turned it on in Game 3 with a brilliant 266, while Michael Muir backed him up with a 204 as the Aussies finished on a high – a team-best 843 for the event.

Their Day 2 total of 2,286 didn’t quite top their first block, but it was enough to climb the standings and close out the event in 10^th place overall with a total of 4,693. Hayes once again led from the front with a 1,254-event score, while Muir provided strong support with 1,205.

Athlete	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Total
George Frilingos	161	176	179	1077
Adam Hayes	224	211	266	1254
Michael Muir	201	184	204	1205
Ashley Riley	203	183	194	1157
TOTAL	789	754	843	4693

All-Events

Australia added two more Masters qualifiers from the Senior Men’s division after another strong overall showing.

Adam Hayes continued his brilliant tournament, finishing in 7^th place in All-Events with an impressive 3,802, while Michael Muir also advanced with 3,681 to finish 18^th.

Athlete	Total	Position
Adam Hayes	3802	7^th
Michael Muir	3681	18^th
Ashley Riley	3602	28^th
George Frilingos	3354	70^th

Grand Senior Women

What a campaign it has been for the Grand Senior Women!

Sitting in second place overnight on 2,173 –with all four team members ranked inside the top 12 of the All-Events standings – confidence was sky-high as the Australians set out to finish their Teams event on a strong note.

The day began with a stumble, their lowest block of the event (664) as no bowler could quite find rhythm early. But the Aussies bounced back quickly in Game 2, led by a composed 205 from Julie Harrison, lifting the team total to 695 and restoring momentum.

That set the tone for a brilliant finish. Harrison stayed hot with a superb 235 in Game 3, supported by consistent efforts from her teammates to post a 759 and storm to the top of the standings. The result gave Australia a 4,291 total and the coveted number one seed heading into the semi-finals.

Athlete	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Total
Robyn Bull	163	154	176	1022
Robyn Flynn	186	183	166	1068
Julie Harrison	180	205	235	1167
Heather Robertson	135	153	182	1034
TOTAL	664	695	759	4291

Finals

Semi-Final

Proudly entering as the number one seed, the Aussies would face the number four seed Czech Republic in its three game baker series semi-final.

Game 1 – Australia defeats Czech Repulic 185-149
Game 2 – Australia defeats Czech Republic 162-150

A clean sweep for the Aussies as they quickly adapted to the Baker scoring format for a commanding win to the next round. Waiting for them, the might of France, who entered the semi-finals as the number two seed.

Grand Final

Australia’s Grand Senior Women claimed gold in emphatic fashion, sweeping France 2-0 in the Teams Final to add another title to the nation’s growing medal haul.

The opening game was tight throughout, with both teams trading strikes early before Australia held firm through the middle frames. Consistent shot-making and spare conversions kept the pressure on France, and a strong finish from the Aussies sealed the deal, taking Game 1, 194-181.

With the first game secured, the Australians looked more composed in Game 2. The team strung together multiple strikes early and maintained their rhythm through to the end, closing out the contest 200-187 for a 2-0 series victory.

It was a complete performance built on teamwork, focus, and experience – a golden result that crowned a memorable campaign for the Grand Senior Women. 🥇🇦🇺

Game 1 – Australia defeats France 194-181
Game 2 – Australia defeats France 200-187

All-Events

The Grand Senior Women’s success carried through to the All-Events leaderboard, where all four Australians qualified for the Masters, showcasing the depth and dominance of the squad.

Julie Harrison capped off her sensational week by claiming the Gold Medal in the Grand Senior Women’s All-Events – a phenomenal achievement that featured her consistency and class throughout the championship.

Athlete	Total	Position
Julie Harrison	3535	1^st
Robyn Flynn	3204	8^th
Robyn Bull	3128	14^th
Heather Robertson	3102	16^th

Senior Women

Starting the day in 5^th place on 2,234, the Senior Women knew they needed a big finish to break into the medal rounds – and they wasted no time delivering.

The opening game set the tone, producing their highest score of the event to that point – an 821- thanks to a pair of standout efforts from Sue Cassell (229) and Dena Buxton (207). Momentum continued into Game 2, with Samantha Matthews firing a 225 to help post a solid 742, moving the team into third place and within striking distance of the semi-finals.

Needing a strong close, the Australians produced something special. Their final game score of 886 was not only their personal best but the highest team score of the entire division, with all four bowlers breaking the 200 mark. Buxton (242) and Cassell (241) led the charge in a brilliant all-round performance.

The effort vaulted the Senior Women to second place overall on a total of 4,683, comfortably securing a semi-final berth as the number two seed. Buxton topped the Aussie contingent with an impressive 1,277 block total.

Athlete	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Total
Dena Buxton	207	171	242	1277
Sue Cassell	229	156	241	1198
Mary Dodds	193	190	203	1102
Samantha Matthews	192	225	200	1106
TOTAL	664	695	886	4,683

Finals

Semi-Finals

Entering the semi-finals as the second seed, the Aussies would match up against Canada in the three game Baker series semi-final.

Game 1 – Australia defeats Canada 182-159
Game 2 – Australia defeats Canada 174-172

Another sweep for the Aussies as they defeat Canada that saw a tough battle in Game 2 to setup a Gold Medal match against the might of the United States of America.

Grand Final

The Senior Women battled through an absolute thriller against the United States, falling just short in a three-game showdown to claim a hard-fought silver medal at the IBF World Seniors Championships.

The Americans edged the Aussies in a tense Game 1, taking it 186-179 after a tight frame-for-frame contest where spares ruled the lanes and neither side could find a decisive strike.

Australia struck back brilliantly in Game 2, rediscovering their rhythm and firing off a strong of strikes through the middle and late frames. With a composed finished, they evened the match with a 225-175 win – the highest game of the match and one that swung momentum their way heading into the decider.

The final game lived up to the moment. Both teams traded strikes early in a high-quality shootout, but the USA found a late surge to edge ahead in the closing frames, taking it 226-222 to secure gold.

It was a spirited performance from the Australians, who showed trademark fight and composure on the big stage, walking away proudly with silver and another medal for Team Australia.

Game 1 – United States of America defeat Australia 186-179
Game 2 – Australia defeat United States of America 225-175
Game 3 – United States of America defeat Australia 226-222

All-Events

The Senior Women’s late surge carried through to the All-Events leaderboard, headlined by Dena Buxton who captured the Bronze Medal after a brilliant overall performance.

Her 18-game total of 3,597 earned her 3^rd place – an outstanding reward for consistency and composure throughout the week. Joining her in the Masters will be Samantha Matthews (3,363, 10^th) and Sue Cassell (3,355, 23^rd), both making late pushes to book their spots just above the cut line.