TBA50 National Teams Challenge – Day 1 Recap
By Matt Stevens
Day 1 – Singles complete at the TBA50 National Teams Challenge
The 18th TBA50 National Teams Challenge got underway today at the TBA National High Performance Centre on the Sunshine Coast, with bowlers taking to the lanes for the first discipline of the week – Singles.
Each competitor completed six games, with medals awarded to the top three bowlers and valuable points added to the overall team standings. The Female Division kicked things off in style.
Female Division Singles
Representing the New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory team, Leanne Rankin claimed the gold medal of the Singles Challenge after producing a stunning late charge to finish with 1,145 pinfall (190.8 avg).
A league bowler from Wagga Wagga Bowl, in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Leanne continues her impressive year on the lanes after partnering with Bec Whiting as the graded bowler in the pair’s Vic150 national title run in April this year.
The event was tightly contested from the opening games, with North Queensland’s Heather Robertson leading after five games on 950 pins. Rankin sat in fifth on 911, but a clutch 234 in her final game saw her rocket up the standings to take the title.
Just six pins separated first and second, with Victoria’s Robyn Flynn finishing strongly thanks to back-to-back 200+ games to claim silver on 1,139. North Queensland’s Suz Wenzel rounded out the podium with bronze on 1,133, closing with games of 205 and 252 to leap into third.
The top five was split by within 26 pins in one of the tightest finishes seen at the event, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely competitive week ahead.
Congratulations to Leanne, Robyn, and Suz – the first medal winners of the 2025 TBA50 National Teams Challenge.
Female Division Standings
After one event, North Queensland has taken the early lead in the Female Division standings. The North Queensland team saw all four bowlers finish in the top 13 positions in the singles event helping them lead the way after one game with 264 points.
The reigning champion Victorians sit in second place on 236 points with South Queensland and Northern Territory tied on 194 points in third with South Queensland possessing a six pin advantage in the pinfall.
Male Division Singles
New South Wales/ACT’s Troy Byrne delivered a statement performance to open the men’s competition, storming to the Male Singles gold medal with a dominant display that combined early firepower with composure when it mattered most.
Byrne exploded out of the gates with a 224 before producing back-to-back monster games of 278 and 264 – the highest single game of the tournament so far (274) – to blow the field wide open. At the halfway point, Byrne sat on 943 pinfall averaging 235.8 and held a commanding 103-pin lead over Tasmania’s Paul Oakley, who was also in fine form with games of 221, 241, and 222 to begin his campaign.
The tempo dipped briefly for both leaders in game five (each posting 163), allowing the pack to close slightly. Victoria’s Jason Newman made a strong late push with 206 and 212 in his games 4 and 5, while North Queensland’s Anthony Hamilton and South Australia’s Barry Clarke stayed in the mix.
Byrne, however, slammed the door shut with a composed 244 to finish with 1,350 pinfall (225 avg). Teammate Jamie Carroll made it a 1-2 finish for NSW/ACT, taking silver on 1,216 (202.7 avg), while Barry Clarke (SA) rounded out the podium for bronze with 1,205 (200.8 avg).
It marks a brilliant progression for Byrne, who won bronze in the same event last year, and gives the NSW/ACT men’s side a perfect start as the Teams Challenge heads into Doubles on Day 2.
A big shoutout to Barry Clarke – Barry won his first TBA50 medal today after nine years of participation – way to go Barry!
Congratulations to Troy, Jamie, and Barry – the Male Singles medalists of the 2025 TBA50 National Teams Challenge.
Male Division Standings
South Australia is leading the charge in the male division after a strong outing in the singles event that not only saw a medal with Barry’s bronze, but all four members of the squad finishing in the top 20 places for singles. South Australia is in the lead with 232 points from their men.
North Queensland ensured they kept up with their ladies’ side sitting in second place on 210 points, and NSW/ACT finished with 206 points thanks to the 1-2 finish by Troy and Jamie.
Overall Combined Standings
It’s only early but North Queensland are the front runners in the 2025 TBA50 National Teams Challenge. Led by their ladies 264, the men also provided a consistent 210 points to lead the field with a combined 474 points. South Australia currently sits in second place with 402 points and NSW/ACT in third place with 392 points after the first day of the 2025 TBA50 National Teams Challenge.
Tomorrow – DOUBLES!
