John Sullivan Senior Australian Open 2025 Preview

The John Sullivan Senior Australian Open is set to return for its 19th edition this weekend at Wyncity Keon Park in Victoria.

Victorian bowling star Dena Buxton will be looking to secure her third consecutive title after triumphing in 2023 and 2024. On the men’s side, Andrew Lloyd will return to defend his 2024 title and will be aiming for his fourth victory at the event, having won in 2020, 2022, and 2024.

As with most Senior and Grand Senior events, competitors will complete 16 games—8 games on Saturday and 8 games on Sunday. The female and male bowlers with the highest pinfall after these 16 games will be crowned this year’s champions.

The event will feature three divisions: Ladies, Men’s, and Men’s 60 and over.

A mainstay of the Senior and Grand Senior divisions’ nationally ranked event season, the John Sullivan Senior Australian Open is named in honour of one of the sport’s greats, John Sullivan.

Inducted into the TBA Hall of Fame in 1989, Sullivan was a top bowler in the 1970s and ’80s and a passionate supporter of the tournament and the A.T.B.S.O.V. Association. Following his passing in 2019, his name was added to the event title in 2020 as a tribute to a man who was beloved by bowlers across the country.

This marks the second nationally ranked event for the Senior and Grand Senior divisions in 2025. Dena Buxton and George Frilingos got off to perfect starts for the year after taking out the season opener – the Hammer Queensland Seniors Classic. Both will look to extend their winning ways being in attendance for this weekend’s event. In the Grand Senior division, Heather Robertson will return to build on her maximum ranking points received at the Hammer.

Tenpin Bowling Australia wishes all participants the best of luck and high scores at this year’s event.

THE JOHN SULLIVAN
SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN
PAST CHAMPIONS