Christensen and Gray Crowned 2026 TBA21 National Masters Champions
By Matt Stevens
North Queensland’s Tamarin Christensen completed a fairytale run to her first nationally ranked event title, while Victoria’s Seth Gray continued his outstanding 2026 season as the pair were crowned champions of the 2026 TBA21 National Masters at Coolangatta Tweed Tenpin.
Christensen defeated Brianna Walsh in straight games to secure the female title, winning 201-170 and 245-198.
Gray also required only two games in the male championship match, overcoming Nicholas Rajkovic 234-198 and 193-188 to add the Masters crown to his victory at the season-opening Wyncity Youth Cup.
The victories brought the 2026 TBA National Youth Championships to a memorable conclusion following four days of competition across the TBA21 National Teams Challenge and Masters.
The 24th edition of the TBA21 National Masters featured eight-game qualifying on Saturday before the leading bowlers joined the Challenge All-Stars for group matchplay, semi-finals and best-of-three matches on Sunday.
At A Glance
- Event – 2026 TBA21 National Masters
- Dates – 18-19 July 2026
- Venue – Coolangatta Tweed Tenpin, Tweed Heads, NSW
- Division – Youth
- Status – TBA Nationally Ranked Event – A26/0124
- Edition – 24th
- Female Champion: Tamarin Christensen (QLD)
- Male Champion: Seth Gray (VIC)
- Full Results – View Here
Overview
Christensen Completes Fairytale Run
Tamarin Christensen entered the weekend chasing her first nationally ranked event victory and emerged as the 2026 TBA21 National Masters Female Champion following an outstanding run through Sunday’s elimination stages.
The North Queenslander, who bowls at Townsville Tenpin and Fun Centre, finished ninth during Saturday’s eight-game qualifying block. Christensen recorded a total of 1,483 at an average of 185.4, with a high game of 236, comfortably securing her position inside the top 12 cut.
South Australia’s Emily Hart made an impressive return to the event she won in 2025, leading qualifying with 1,766 at an average of 220.8.
Christensen was then placed into a highly competitive Group A for Sunday’s Stage 2 matchplay.
Brianna Walsh emerged as the group winner after securing five victories and 15 points, booking the first available position in the semi-finals.
Behind Walsh, the battle for second could not have been closer.
Christensen, Hart, Samantha Clifton and Sophie Greaves all completed their seven matches with four victories and 12 points, forcing a four-way playoff for the remaining semi-final berth.
With the pressure at its highest, Christensen delivered one of the defining performances of the tournament. Her outstanding 247 proved comfortably enough to defeat Hart’s 199, Greaves’ 179 and Clifton’s 168, eliminating two former Masters champions and sending Christensen into the Final Four.
In Group B, Brooke Buckingham produced six wins from seven matches to finish on 18 points and advanced as the group winner.
The second position again required a playoff after Katelin Melton, Vanessa Hannigan and Emily Starkey each finished with four wins and 12 points. Melton survived the closest possible finish, edging Hannigan by a single pin, 174-173, with Starkey recording 148.
Christensen’s reward for surviving her Group A playoff was a semi-final meeting with Buckingham. A 210-195 victory in the opening game helped Christensen settle quickly, but Buckingham responded with a 204-191 win to force a third and deciding game.
Christensen regained control when it mattered most, winning the decider 201-180 to advance to the Grand Final.
Waiting in the final was Walsh, the bowler who had topped Christensen’s group earlier in the day.
Christensen again made the perfect start, taking the opening game 201-170 before producing her highest score of the knockout phase in Game 2.
Her commanding 245-198 victory completed a two-games-to-nil sweep and confirmed the first nationally ranked event title of her career. The victory also continued a proud Queensland history in the female division.
Christensen becomes the fourth Queensland bowler to win the TBA21 National Masters, joining Tamika Pettigrew, who won in 2023, and fellow North Queenslanders Ivy Dickinson, who won in 2021, and Chloe Jones, who captured consecutive titles in 2019 and 2020.
It was also a memorable Championships for the Christensen family, with Tamarin’s brother Blayde rolling a perfect 300 during the male singles event of the preceding TBA21 National Teams Challenge.
Gray Adds Masters Crown to Outstanding Season
Seth Gray continued his exceptional start to the 2026 ranked season by capturing his second Youth Division title of the year.
Gray entered the Masters as the reigning Wyncity Youth Cup champion and immediately positioned himself among the leading contenders during Saturday’s qualifying.
The Victorian finished as the fourth-highest male qualifier, recording 1,759 across his eight games at an average of 219.9, with a high game of 247.
North Queenslander Connor Raines led all qualifiers with a remarkable 1,919 total and 239.9 average. Raines completed qualifying with an extraordinary final four-game sequence of 298, 279, 257 and 254 to set the pace heading into Sunday’s group matchplay.
Placed into Group A, Gray quickly took control of his path towards the finals.
He won six of his seven matches, opening with a high game of 248, to finish on 18 points and secure top position in the group.
Nicholas Rajkovic joined him in advancing after collecting five victories and 15 points.
Group A also produced the second perfect game of the 2026 TBA National Youth Championships, with South Australian Liam Cochrane rolling 300 during Game 4. Blake Walsh matched Gray’s six-win performance in Group B, accumulating 18 points to finish at the top of the group and secure his semi-final position.
The race for second ended in a three-way tie between Sam Coombs, Zayne Pirlo and Luca McPherson, who each recorded five victories and 15 points. Pirlo prevailed in the resulting playoff with 224, overcoming Coombs’ 210 and McPherson’s 183 to earn a semi-final meeting with Gray.
Gray made an emphatic statement in their best-of-three encounter.
He opened with a dominant 247-170 victory before holding off Pirlo 228-214 in the second game, completing a straight-games sweep and becoming the first bowler to book a place in the male title match.
The second semi-final brought together Australian World Youth Championships teammates Rajkovic and Walsh.
Rajkovic claimed the opening game 212-194 before Walsh answered with a 234-202 victory to force a deciding third game. With a position in the final on the line, Rajkovic produced a brilliant 265 to defeat Walsh’s 222 and set up a title showdown with Gray.
Gray carried his momentum into the title match, opening with a composed 234-198 victory. The second game developed into a much tighter, shot-for-shot contest as Rajkovic attempted to extend the final.
Gray ultimately held his nerve, prevailing 193-188 to complete another two-games-to-nil sweep and secure the 2026 TBA21 National Masters title.
The triumph follows Gray’s victory at the Wyncity Youth Cup and gives him two titles on the 2026 Youth Division nationally ranked event calendar.
He also becomes the sixth Victorian male bowler to win the Masters in the event’s 24-year history. Gray joins Glen Loader, who won in 2007, Andrew Tonkin in 2009, Paul White in 2013, Lachlan Merchant in 2015 and 2024 champion Trent McDougall on the Victorian honour roll.
Results
Female Division
Champion: Tamarin Christensen
Runner-up: Brianna Walsh
Final: Christensen defeated Walsh 2–0
201–170, 245–198
Semi-finals:
Tamarin Christensen defeated Brooke Buckingham 2–1
210–195, 191–204, 201–180
Brianna Walsh defeated Katelin Melton 2–1
169–224, 239–237, 234–168
Male Division
Champion: Seth Gray
Runner-up: Nicholas Rajkovic
Final: Gray defeated Rajkovic 2–0
234–198, 193–188
Semi-finals:
Seth Gray defeated Zayne Pirlo 2–0
247–170, 228–214
Nicholas Rajkovic defeated Blake Walsh 2–1
212–194, 202–234, 265–222
Congratulations to Tamarin Christensen and Seth Gray on being crowned the 2026 TBA21 National Masters champions, and to every bowler who competed across an outstanding conclusion to the 2026 TBA National Youth Championships.
Performance Highlights
Liam Cochrane – 300
South Australia’s Liam Cochrane delivered the standout individual game of the Masters, rolling a perfect game during Game 4 of the male Stage 2 matchplay.
It was the second 300 game recorded during the 2026 TBA National Youth Championships, following Blayde Christensen’s perfect game in the TBA21 National Teams Challenge singles event.
Stage 1 Qualifying Leaders
- Emily Hart: 1,766 at an average of 220.8
- Connor Raines: 1,919 at an average of 239.9
Highest Games
- Female Stage 1: Jasmine Walker – 255
- Female Stage 2: Vanessa Hannigan – 277
- Female Finals: Tamarin Christensen – 245
- Male Stage 1: Connor Raines – 298
- Male Stage 2: Liam Cochrane – 300
- Male Finals: Nicholas Rajkovic – 265
Stage 2 Group Leaders
Female Group A: Brianna Walsh – 15 points
Female Group B: Brooke Buckingham – 18 points
Male Group A: Seth Gray – 18 points Male Group B: Blake Walsh – 18 points
Acknowledgements
Tenpin Bowling Australia congratulates Tamarin Christensen and Seth Gray on being crowned the 2026 TBA21 National Masters champions, along with runners-up Brianna Walsh and Nicholas Rajkovic and every bowler who advanced through the qualifying and matchplay stages.
TBA also extends its congratulations and thanks to every bowler who competed in the 2026 TBA National Youth Championships.
Across the TBA21 National Teams Challenge and the TBA21 National Masters, the Championships showcased the talent, determination and sportsmanship of Australia and New Zealand’s emerging bowlers.
Thank you to the participating teams, state associations, Tenpin Bowling New Zealand, team officials, coaches, managers, families and supporters whose commitment made the Championships possible.
A special thank you is extended to Coolangatta Tweed Tenpin and its staff for hosting the Championships and supporting the delivery of four memorable days of national youth competition.
TBA also acknowledges Jodi Bishop, tournament officials, lane marshals, volunteers, tournament staff and everyone who contributed behind the scenes throughout the event.
Finally, thank you to everyone who followed the Championships through the TBA website, TenpinResults and social channels, and who supported the bowlers from around Australia and New Zealand.
Congratulations to all competitors on their performances throughout the 2026 TBA National Youth Championships.
2026 TBA Youth Division Rankings Schedule
- Wyncity Youth Cup – COMPLETED
- QLD Youth Cup – COMPLETED
- TBA21 National Masters – COMPLETED
- Grand National Youth Eliminator – 21-22 November 2026
- Sydney Youth Cup – TBD
