TBA21 National Teams Challenge – Singles Event Results Wrap
By Matt Stevens
The 2025 TBA21 National Teams Challenge launched with fireworks on Day 1 at the AGL National High Performance Centre on the Sunshine Coast, as Australia’s top youth bowlers battled through six gruelling games in the singles event. With every pin counting toward individual glory and precious team points, it was a dramatic opening act.
Female Division: Pettigrew’s Late Surge Delivers Gold
South Queensland’s Tamika Pettigrew kept her cool when it counted most. Trailing early in the block and dropping to third after a rough game four score of 142, Pettigrew mounted a powerful comeback with a 186 in game five before closing with a clutch 217—one of just two 200+ games bowled in the entire female division.
That final flourish lifted her to a six-game total of 1,087 pins (181.2 avg) and earned her gold, delivering South Queensland a valuable early win.
North Queensland had reason to celebrate too, with Emily Starkey (1,039) and Chloe Piffero (1,033) claiming silver and bronze, giving NQ two podium finishes and a strong start in the team race.
Final Podium – Female Singles
🥇 Tamika Pettigrew (SQ) – 1,087
🥈 Emily Starkey (NQ) – 1,039
🥉 Chloe Piffero (NQ) – 1,033
Female Division Team Points – After Singles
🥇 North Queensland – 144 pts
🥈 South Queensland – 136 pts
🥉 Northern NSW – 134 pts
Male Division: A Gold-Medal Tie for the Ages
In the male division, the singles event delivered one of the tightest finishes in recent memory.
Seth Gray (Victoria 1) jumped into the lead with a jaw-dropping 289 in game four, the highest score of the day. But Connor Raines (North Queensland), the reigning singles champion from 2024, refused to let go. Down by 30 pins heading into the final game, Raines closed with a 211, while Gray managed 181—resulting in a stunning tie at 1,250 pins.
Both bowlers averaged 208.3 over six games, and under TBA21 rules, were awarded dual gold medals. No silver was awarded.
Gray’s fourth game 289 was a huge boost, while Raines was the only male bowler to log four 200+ games, showing his consistency. The high game of the day belonged to Northern Queenslander Blayde Christensen who rolled a 296 in game four. Congrats Blayde!
Just three pins shy of gold, Jackson Buckingham (1,247) secured bronze in a heartbreakingly close finish. His Northern NSW teammate Blake Walsh (1,233) surged late to round out a strong team performance that propelled NNSW to the top of the male team standings.
Final Podium – Male Singles
🥇 Seth Gray (VIC 1) – 1,250
🥇 Connor Raines (NQ) – 1,250
🥉 Jackson Buckingham (NNSW) – 1,247
Male Division Team Points – After Singles
1. Northern NSW – 140 pts
2. North Queensland – 131 pts
3. Victoria 2 – 120 pts
4. Victoria 1 – 117 pts
5. South Queensland – 104 pts
The bar has been set high after a thrilling singles event—and the team standings are already shaping into a tight race. The next event, the Baker Team format, promises more fireworks and momentum swings as the hunt for the TBA21 crown heats up.
Keep up to date with all the scores and results by hitting the results link below. We will soon publish a post for the Baker event to stay up to date with the Baker event as it unfolds.
