Bronze medal at Australian Champion of Champions singles event for Emu Point bowler Matt Mitchell

Emu Point’s Matt Mitchell claimed a bronze medal at the Australian Champion of Champions tournament at Broadbeach in Queensland last week.

The men’s singles round robin competition featuring champions from eight States and Territories was a hard-fought contest on September 30 and October 1.

Mitchell finished third on the standings, with four wins from his seven matches to edge out Queensland’s Cohen Litfin by percentage and secure bronze.

Litfin and Mitchell both had 12 points at the completion of seven games but the WA representative had a score difference of 26 compared with Litfin’s -1.

Mitchell said it was tough competition and he was pleased to return home with a medal.

“I’m happy with bronze but not satisfied with it,” he said.

“In that sort of field, if you medal you are reasonably happy but you always strive for perfection.

“Another win or two and you are playing for gold.

“I lost two games on the last bowl where I was closing out and they had no right of reply so it is what it is.”

NSW’s Jono Davis was crowned national champion after winning a thrilling finish to the event.

Davis and Tasmanian Mark Nitz were tied on 18 points but Davis won the crown with a score difference of 46 to beat Nitz marginally on 45.

In his opening game Mitchell was a dominant winner 21 shots to 10 over Northern Territory’s Tystan Smallacombe.

Mitchell’s second game went to the wire but he lost 20-21 to Litfin and then bounced back to edge out South Australian Nathan Pedersen 21-20.

His final game on Friday was a 17-21 loss to Nitz.

Mitchell began Saturday with a 21-15 triumph over Victoria’s Jordan Yates but he went down in a close battle with Davis, 18-21, to end his hopes of a gold medal.

The seventh and final round would decide the medals, Mitchell needing a win while Litfin played Nitz.

Nitz was successful and Mitchell’s dominant 21-5 win over Peter Watts from the Australian Capital Territory handed the Emu Point star a deserved bronze medal.

“The guy who won it was 21 so it was a reasonably young and very competitive field,” Mitchell said. “I’d love to go again and shoot for gold.

“It’s a long process to start again, you have to win your club singles and then the States, but I’m always striving to be at the top level and playing in these sort of fields and competitions.”