National Disability Championship Classic & Open Masters Recap
By Matt Stevens
Lancsar, Wardrope, Chloe Gee and Mascetti claim titles as Women’s Divisions make historic debut at Suncity Tenpin
The 2026 National Disability Championship Classic and Open Masters delivered a landmark weekend of bowling at Suncity Tenpin in Alexandra Headland, Queensland, crowning four champions across two days and making history with the debut of Women’s Divisions in both the Classic and Open Masters for the first time in the event’s 13-year history.
The weekend produced drama in abundance. Three of the four stepladder finals required a repechage game to decide a champion, with top seeds twice losing the final before recovering to win the decider. The standout moment came in the Open Women’s final, where sisters Chloe and Claire Gee, both from Victoria, went head-to-head twice across the stepladder, with Chloe ultimately prevailing to become the inaugural Women’s Open Masters champion.
Reese Lancsar claimed the inaugural Women’s Classic Masters title with a composed performance across the roll-off and stepladder, while Casey Wardrope survived a repechage game of his own to take the Classic Men’s crown. Pino Mascetti, the defending champion, recovered from a final defeat to win the repechage game and successfully defended his Open Men’s title.
At A Glance
- Event: 2026 National Disability Championships Classic & Open Masters
- Dates: 12-13 June 2026
- Venue: Suncity Tenpin, Alexandra Headland, QLD
- Ranked Event Status: TBA Nationally Ranked Event (A26/032)
- Classic Women’s Champion: Reese Lancsar (ACT)
- Classic Men’s Champion: Casey Wardrope (QLD)
- Open Women’s Champion: Chloe Gee (VIC)
- Open Men’s Champion: Pino Mascetti (VIC)
Overview
Classic Masters – Friday 12 June
Women’s Division
Reese Lancsar of the ACT opened the weekend’s history-making with a composed performance across the eight-game roll-off and stepladder final, claiming the inaugural Women’s Classic Masters title at Suncity Tenpin.
Lancsar led the roll-off with a total of 1,863, edging Charlotte King (TAS, 1,848) and Ebony Warner (VIC, 1,840) in a remarkably tight race for the top three – just 23 pins separating the field heading into the stepladder. Melina Spence finished fourth, ending her challenge at the roll-off stage.
The 3 v 2 stepladder produced a standout performance from Warner, who bowled a scratch 211 (295 with handicap) to defeat King 295-210 and earn her place in the final. Lancsar, as top seed awaited.
In the final, Lancsar held her nerve to win 244-222 on handicap (164-138 scratch) to claim the title and etch her name into the history books as the first-ever Women’s Classic Masters champion.
Podium – Classic Masters Women
| Position | Athlete | State |
| 🥇 | Reese Lancsar | ACT |
| 🥈 | Ebony Warner | VIC |
| 🥉 | Charlotte King | TAS |
Men’s Division
Casey Wardrope of Queensland claimed the 2026 Classic Men’s Masters title after surviving a stepladder upset, winning the repechage game to secure the crown.
Wardrope had been the standout performer throughout the eight-game roll-off, leading the field with a 1,929 total – headlined by a stunning final game of 262 scratch (315 with handicap) that underlined his credentials as the man to beat. Max Holden finished second with 1,873, while Howard Goss worked his way into third with a consistent 1,797 total despite entering the roll-off as the 11th seed.
The 3v2 semi-final stepladder saw Goss continue his momentum, bowling 213 scratch (263 with handicap) to account for Holden 263-243 and set up a final against Wardrope.
Goss then produced another strong performance to defeat the top seed 232-227 on handicap, triggering the repechage game. Wardrope regrouped to win the decider 244-226 and claimed the title he had threatened to win all day.
Podium – Classic Masters Men
| Position | Athlete | State |
| 🥇 | Casey Wardrope | QLD |
| 🥈 | Howard Goss | ACT |
| 🥉 | Max Holden | WA |
Open Masters – Saturday 13 June
Women’s Division
The inaugural Women’s Open Masters title went to Chloe Gee of Victoria, but not before a family showdown that produced one of the weekend’s most memorable moments.
Chloe led the eight-game roll-off with a commanding 1,569 total, averaging 196.1 across the block to claim top seeding heading into the stepladder. Her sister, Claire Gee finished second with 1,508, with Violet Martinsen third at 1,443 – the Queenslander who had featured so prominently in the Inclusion Cup once again in contention when it mattered.
The semi-final stepladder was tight. Claire edged Martinsen 198-194 in a four-pin thriller to advance and set up an all-Gee final.
What followed was a remarkable contest. Claire produced a superb 237 to defeat top seed Chloe 237-203 in the final, forcing a repechage game and turning a family affair into a genuine shootout. In the decider, Chloe held her nerve to win 193-183 and claim the title.
It was a fitting conclusion to a historic weekend – the first Women’s Open Masters Champion decided by a repechage game between two sisters, both from Victoria, both competing at the highest level.
Podium – Open Masters Women
| Position | Athlete | State |
| 🥇 | Chloe Gee | VIC |
| 🥈 | Claire Gee | VIC |
| 🥉 | Violet Martinsen | QLD |
Men’s Division
Pino Mascetti successfully defended his Open Masters title, but had to do it the hard way, recovering from a final defeat to claim the repechage game and retain his crown.
Mascetti had been incredible throughout the eight-game roll-off, leading the field with 1,826 at an average of 228.3 – a performance that firmly established him as the man to beat. William Mison finished second with 1,775, with Adam Sutherland of Tasmania third at 1,766 in a tightly packed top three separated by just 60 pins. AJ Jamal, who had been among the pre-event favourites, finished fourth with 1,755 and was unable to advance.
The semi-final saw Sutherland account for Mison 205-188 to earn his shot at the top seed. What followed was a genuine upset – Sutherland produced a composed 212 to defeat Mascetti 212-186 in the final, forcing yet another repechage game and putting the title very much in the balance.
But Mascetti, a bowler who has been at the top of this event for years, responded with authority. He won the repechage game 238-201 to successfully defend his Open Masters title and cement his status as the dominant force in Inclusion division.
Podium – Open Masters Men
| Position | Athlete | State |
| 🥇 | Pino Mascetti | VIC |
| 🥈 | Adam Sutherland | TAS |
| 🥉 | William Mison | QLD |
Performance Highlights
Open Masters – Men
- High Scratch Game: William Mison – 285
Open Masters – Women
- High Scratch Game: Claire Gee – 238
Classic Masters – Men
- High Scratch Game: Casey Wardrope – 262
Classic Masters – Women
- High Scratch Game: Ebony Warner – 211
Also Concluded: Classic & Open All-Events
The National Disability Championships Classic and Open All-Events – the second ranked event of the 2026 TBA Inclusion National Ranked Event season reached its conclusion with the completion of championship squads, with ranking points now ready to be calculated across all four divisions.
The Gee family capped a remarkable weekend by sweeping the Open Women’s All-Events podium positions, with Claire Gee topping the standings on 1,973 ahead of sister Chloe Gee in second on 1,809. The result came before either had bowled in the Masters finals – making their subsequent Open Women’s Masters final showdown even more remarkable.
Pino Mascetti confirmed his status as the standout performer of the championship by topping the Open Men’s All-Events with 2,208, with Jared Kirkland finishing second on 2,202 – a total that included a stunning 821 series across his second qualifying block, one of the standout performances of the entire championship. AJ Jamal finished third with 2,145.
In the Classic Men’s division, Ronan Oxley claimed the All-Events title with 1,897 – a result that underlines the strength of his championship performance across the squads despite finishing 14th in the Masters qualifier. Malakai Sammut finished second with 1,767 and Nicholas Jefferson third with 1,750.
Erica Woodward topped the Classic Women’s All-Events standings with 1,612, ahead of Courtney Bucknell on 1,565 and Mia Murrell in third with 1,563 – the two separated by just two pins.
All-Events Results
Open Women
| Position | Athlete | State | Total |
| 🥇 | Claire Gee | VIC | 1,973 |
| 🥈 | Chloe Gee | VIC | 1,809 |
| 🥉 | Ella Hoffmann | QLD | 1,680 |
Classic Women
| Position | Athlete | State | Total |
| 🥇 | Erica Woodward | NSW | 1,612 |
| 🥈 | Courtney Bucknell | QLD | 1,565 |
| 🥉 | Mia Murrell | QLD | 1,563 |
Open Men
| Position | Athlete | State | Total |
| 🥇 | Pino Mascetti | VIC | 2,208 |
| 🥈 | Jared Kirkland | NSW | 2,202 |
| 🥉 | AJ Jamal | VIC | 2,145 |
Classic Men
| Position | Athlete | State | Total |
| 🥇 | Ronan Oxley | QLD | 1,897 |
| 🥈 | Malakai Sammut | ACT | 1,767 |
| 🥉 | Nicholas Jefferson | QLD | 1,750 |
Acknowledgements
Tenpin Bowling Australia congratulates all four champions and acknowledges every athlete who competed across the 2026 National Disability Championships Classic and Open Masters finals. A special acknowledgement to all bowlers who made history this weekend as part of the inaugural Women’s divisions.
TBA thanks Tournament Director Louise Cooke, Suncity Tenpin and ADTI tournament staff and officials who delivered the Classic and Open Masters finals across Friday and Saturday.
Thank you to Mayor Rosanna Natoli from the Sunshine Coast Council who was on hand to help award medals on Saturday’s Open Masters.
A big shoutout to Graeme Morgan, the event photographer. Graeme, a Grand Senior ranked bowler, provided some amazing shots of the action over the weekend and a big thank you for capturing these moments. You can see more of the great shots on the ADTI facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/AustralianDisabilitiesTenpin
Restricted Masters Results
While not a TBA Ranked Event, the Restricted Masters finals ran alongside the Classic and Open events across the weekend, and TBA acknowledges the performances of all athletes who competed.
Restricted Masters – Women
Bella Armstrong of South Australia claimed the Women’s Restricted Masters title, topping the eight-game roll-off with 1,834 before backing up her performance in the stepladder final. Tracey Stevenson of Queensland defeated Temika Shier 236-217 in the semi-final to advance, before Armstrong won the final 234-189 to take the title.
| Position | Athlete | State |
| 🥇 | Bella Armstrong | SA |
| 🥈 | Tracey Stevenson | QLD |
| 🥉 | Temika Shier | QLD |
Restricted Masters – Men
Joshua James of the ACT led the Men’s Restricted Masters roll-off with 1,867, but it was Steven Martin of Queensland who claimed the title after a dramatic finish. Martin defeated Bede Hughs 225-218 in the semi-final before upsetting top seed Joshua James 254-237 in the final to force a repechage game. James responded to win the repechage came 147-71 and claimed the Restricted Men’s Masters crown.
| Position | Athlete | State |
| 🥇 | Joshua James | ACT |
| 🥈 | Steven Martin | QLD |
| 🥉 | Bede Hughs | ACT |
Full Results
Full results from the 2026 National Disability Championships are available on TenpinResults and the Masters results can be accessed below with pdf printouts with results set to be published on TenpinResults sometime soon.
What’s Next
The 2026 TBA Inclusion National Ranked Event season continues with two events remaining – the Inclusion NSW Open and the Inclusion Australian Open.
Ranking points from the Classic and Open Masters will be calculated and updated following the conclusion of this weekend’s finals in addition to the Classic and Open All-Events.
Congratulations to all bowlers who competed in this year’s All-Events and Masters ranked events.
2026 TBA Inclusion Division Rankings Schedule
- TBA Inclusion Cup – COMPLETED
- National Disability Championships Classic & Open All-Events – COMPLETED
- National Disability Championships Classic & Open Masters – COMPLETED
- Inclusion NSW Open – 17-18 October
- Inclusion Australian Open – TBD
