Whiting, Rankin Crowned Vic150 Co-Champions in Historic Weekend
By Matt Stevens
History was made at ZONE BOWLING Frankston over the Easter weekend as Victorian bowling legend Bec Whiting and Wagga Wagga’s Leanne Rankin teamed up to capture the 2025 Vic150 title.
With this victory, Whiting becomes one of the most successful bowlers in the Vic150’s 40-year history, equaling the legendary Ann-Maree Putney.
Known for its distinctive and fan-favourite format, the Vic150 features two days of individual qualifying before the top 10 scratch and top 10 graded bowlers combine for a high-stakes matchplay doubles final.
Victorian veteran Dena Buxton got off to a scorching start in the scratch division, rolling a sensational opening game of 277 to propel her to the top of the leaderboard with an eight-game total of 1,603. Fellow Victorians Emily Cross (1,600), Bek Martin (1,599), and Bec Whiting (1,595) remained hot on her heels, setting the stage for a dramatic second day.
In the graded division, Samantha Oliver took the early lead, leveraging her +40 handicap to end the day with an adjusted score of 1,668.
Whiting delivered a masterclass performance on day two, quickly taking control with an opening 236 and maintaining relentless pressure throughout her eight games. Her impressive 1,647 total for day two pushed her ahead to finish as the top qualifier with 3,242 pins. Buxton showed remarkable consistency to finish just 30 pins back (3,212 total), while South Australia’s Jamie Phelan surged into third place with a stellar day-two effort, ending at 3,194.
Victorian bowlers dominated the race for finals positions, with Emily Cross (4th, 3,155), Bek Martin (5th, 3,104), Sarah Thompson (8th, 2,917), Sarah Minehan (9th, 2,916), and Amanda Delange (10th, 2,913) all securing spots amid fierce competition. The remaining spots going to Western Australian superstar Siarn Ottaviano and South Australian Emily Hart who finished 6th and 7th respectively.
Meanwhile, in the graded division, Summah Bennet dramatically climbed from ninth place to first, bolstered by strong closing games of 206 and 246. Leigh Martin secured second place just 17 pins back, and Samantha Oliver finished third.
The top 10 scratch bowlers joined forces with the top 10 graded bowlers in the Vic150’s trademark doubles format, creating electrifying pairings through a snake draft.
TOP TEN FINALISTS
| Scratch | Graded |
| Bec Whiting (1) | Leanne Rankin (10) |
| Dena Buxton (2) | Amanda Threlfall (9) |
| Jamie Phelan (3) | Stephanie Surawski (8) |
| Emily Cross (4) | Lisa Schloemann (7) |
| Bek Martin (5) | Ella Hoffman (6) |
| Siarn Ottaviano (6) | Jade Hawke (5) |
| Emily Hart (7) | Tracey De Wit (4) |
| Sarah Thompson (8) | Samantha Oliver (3) |
| Sarah Minehan (9) | Leah Martin (2) |
| Amanda Delange (10) | Summah Bennett (1) |
Whiting teamed with Wagga Wagga’s Leanne Rankin, and the pairing proved unstoppable, capturing seven of nine matchplay games. Whiting averaged an impressive 202, complemented effectively by Rankin’s solid 167.1 average. Their combined pinfall, boosted by matchplay bonuses and handicap, totalled 10,033 pins.
Bek Martin and Ella Hoffmann mounted a strong challenge, finishing second with 9,922, just 111 pins shy of the champions. Dena Buxton and Amanda Threlfall, fresh from her medal-winning performance at the 2025 IBF Para Bowling World Championships, rounded out the podium in third place with 9,840 pins.
Whiting’s landmark victory cements her legacy as one of Australian bowling’s all-time greats. The 2025 Vic150 showcased outstanding talent, resilience, and unforgettable bowling moments.
Tenpin Bowling Australia congratulates Bec Whiting on this incredible achievement and all bowlers who participated in this years and the 40th edition of the Vic 150.
Future Frames
It was announced that next year’s 2026 Australian Tenpin Bowling Open and Vic 150 would run at Wyncity Keon Park.
The next event in the women’s division heads to Caboolture for the Queensland Ladies Classic on May 17-18. There are still spots available in the two squads, secure your spot now!
Winners Journey
BEC WHITING (VIC) – SCRATCH DIVISION
Day 1 – Qualifying 8 Games
- 1,595 over 8 games
- 199.4 average
- -8 pins from the leader in 4th place
| 194 | 212 | 195 | 179 |
| 200 | 212 | 193 | 210 |
Day 2 – Qualifying 8 Games
- 1,647 over 8 games
- = 3,242 over 16 game total
- 202.6 avg
- Paired with 10th seed from the graded division – Leanne Rankin.
| 236 | 180 | 223 | 212 |
| 187 | 222 | 216 | 171 |
LEANNE RANKIN (NSW) – GRADED DIVISION
Day 1 – Qualifying 8 Games
- Handicap of 28 pins applied for every game
- 1,395 pins (1,603)
- -65 pins from the leader in 4th place
| 157 (185) | 184(212) | 185 (213) | 174 (202) |
| 183 (211) | 178 (206) | 152 (180) | 182 (210) |
Day 2 – Qualifying 8 Games
- 1,266 pins
- 2,661 total pins (3,077)
- -219 from the leader in 10th place
- Paired with 1st seed in scratch division for matchplay finals – Bec Whiting
| 141 (169) | 164 (192) | 180 (208) | 159 (187) |
| 132 (160) | 175 (203) | 146 (174) | 169 (197) |
Day 3 – Matchplay Finals
| GAME TOTAL | BEC WHITING | LEANNE RANKIN |
| 358 (+20) | 183 (203) | 175 (203) |
| 431 (+20) | 232 (252) | 199 (227) |
| 293 | 155 | 138 (166) |
| 375 (+20) | 170 (190) | 205 (233) |
| 422 (+20) | 235 (255) | 187 (215) |
| 334 (+20) | 207 (227) | 127 (155) |
| 334 | 198 | 136 (164) |
| 367 (+20) | 214 (234) | 153 (181) |
| 408 (+20) | 224 (244) | 184 (212) |
- 10,033 combined winning total
- +140 bonus pins from 7 wins
HIGH GAME
Dena Buxton – 277
VIC 150
CHAMPIONS LIST
| Year | Scratch | Graded |
| 1985 | Annette Main (Qld) | Christene Webster (Vic) |
| 1986 | Carol Gianotti (WA) | Cheryl Munson (NSW) |
| 1987 | Kerry Baker (Vic) | Barb Richmond (Qld) |
| 1988 | Bev Freestone (NSW) | Ruth Guerster (Vic) |
| 1989 | Dana Miller (USA) | Jenny King (Vic) |
| 1990 | Jeanette Baker (SA) | Cheryl Munson (NSW) |
| 1991 | Jeanette Baker (SA) | Alison Fisher (Qld) |
| 1992 | Teena Peake (SA) | Debbie Biviano (NSW) |
| 1993 | Cara Honeychurch (Vic) | Sandra Davis (NSW) |
| 1994 | Chris Roughly (NSW) | Ann-Maree Putney (NSW) |
| 1995 | Cara Honeychurch (Vic) | Tracey Sweeney (NSW) |
| 1996 | Cara Honeychurch (Vic) | Sue Cassell (NSW) |
| 1997 | Jeanette Baker (Vic) | Joy Hayman (NSW) |
| 1998 | Ann-Maree Putney (NSW) | Cindy Watts (Vic) |
| 1999 | Ann-Maree Putney (NSW) | Debbie Naughton (Vic) |
| 2000 | Amanda Bradley (NSW) | Carol Lillis (Vic) |
| 2001 | Ann-Maree Putney (NSW) | Barbara Wroblewska (Vic) |
| 2002 | Amanda Bradley (NSW) | Monique Stute (Vic) |
| 2003 | Katie Kotteakos (NSW) | Lisa Trowell (Vic) |
| 2004 | Natalie Shelley (Vic) | Katrina Brennan (Vic) |
| 2005 | Tracey Madden (Vic) | Vikki Taylor (ACT) |
| 2006 | Cheryl Langlands (Vic) | Lorraine Miller (Vic) |
| 2007 | Ann-Maree Putney (NSW) | Jessica Dzioba (Vic) |
| 2008 | Rebecca Whiting (NSW) | Brenda Kirkwood (WA) |
| 2009 | Narelle Baker (Vic) | Amy Farrell (Vic) |
| 2010 | Natalie Shelley (Vic) | Leesa Bartlem (Qld) |
| 2011 | Ann-Maree Putney (NSW) | Courtney Stace (Vic) |
| 2012 | Ann-Maree Putney (NSW) | Susanne Jack (NSW) |
| 2013 | Kate Pilkington (Qld) | Rebekah Commane (Vic) |
| 2014 | Kate Pilkington (QLD) | Nola Downie (NSW) |
| 2015 | Amanda De Lange (VIC) | Terral Silcox (VIC) |
| 2016 | Kate Pilkington (QLD) | Shellie Van Dalen (QLD) |
| 2017 | Rebecca Whiting (VIC) | Debbie Naughten (VIC) |
| 2018 | Rebecca Whiting (VIC) | Debbie Naughten (VIC) |
| 2019 | Rebecca Whiting (VIC) | Nola Downie (NSW) |
| 2020 | Not Contested | Not Contested |
| 2021 | Rebekah Martin (VIC) | Lisa Gaylor (VIC) |
| 2022 | Amy Shoesmith (ACT) | Kerryl Galletly (QLD) |
| 2023 | Bec Whiting (VIC) | Shellie Van Dalen (QLD) |
| 2024 | Bec Whiting (VIC) | Jade Hawke (QLD) |
| 2025 | Bec Whiting (VIC) | Leanne Rankin (NSW) |
VIC 150
MULTIPLE TIME CHAMPIONS
| Cheryl Munson (NSW) | 1986 & 1990 |
| Amanda Bradley (NSW) | 2000 & 2002 |
| Natalie Shelley (VIC) | 2004 & 2010 |
| Jeanette Baker (VIC) | 1990, 1991 & 1997 |
| Cara Honeychurch (VIC) | 1993, 1995 & 1996 |
| Ann-Maree Putney (NSW) | 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2011, 2012 |
| Kate Pilkington (QLD) | 2013, 2014, 2016 |
| Bec Whiting | 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
