Last  week Australia’s best Snooker players competed in the Bob Hawke AC Australian Open and Australian Women’s Open Snooker Championships at Mount Pritchard Community Club,  “Mounties” in Sydney’s West. Also in the draw were 5 international players: from the UK, Peter Gilchrist, twice World Professional Billiards Champion; Keith E Boon Ayn and Marvin Lim from Singapore, and Sourav Kothari and Dhruv Sitwala from India.

The main event was won by Sydney’s Glen Wilkinson who performed consistently throughout the 4 days winning 25 of his 34 games against 5 players. Glen is now 1 in the Australian Rankings having also won the 2007 Australian National, the 2007 Australian Masters and 2007 NSW Snooker Championships.

His dedication to the game was evident in the best of 15 final against another great NSW player, Stuart Lawler. Glen quickly established a 4-1 lead before lunch and although Stuart showed the skill displayed in preliminary rounds by securing another 2 frames, Glen was just too strong on the day and won the match 8-3.

On his way to the final, Glen defeated India’s Sourav Kothari 5-3 in the semi-final; Singapore’s Marvin Lim in the quarters; past World Professional Billiards Champions, Peter Gilchrist in the round of 16, and NSW’s Dale Kennedy in the round of 32. Stuart Lawler, who last won the event in 1998, defeated Shawn Budd, the 2004 champion in the semi-final; John Wims in the quarters, Joe Minici, past Australian Billiards Champion, in the round of 16 and NSW’s Gary Mares in the round of 32. Stuart also made the highest break of 99, although Paul Balzer made the overall highest break for the week, a 115 in the consolation plate.

The 2007 Australian Women’s Open Snooker Championship was won by NSW’s Tanya Harrison who defeated another NSW player, Anne Green, 4 frames to 3 in the final. It was a good year for Tanya having also won the 2007 NSW Women’s Snooker Championship in August. In the semi-final Tanya defeated Queensland’s Shirley Smith 3-2 and Jacqueline Baird from NSW in the quarters 3-1. Anne Green played very well in defeating 8 times Australian Women’s Champion, Kathy Parashis in the semi-final 3-1 and another fine NSW player, Jenny McCulla 3-2 in the quarters. 

Event Director, Ron Baikie, thanked Mounties for again hosting and sponsoring the event for the 11th consecutive year. “As with all Mounties’ facilities their billiard room is first class, well maintained and much appreciated the by elite players who participate in this event each year. Mounties has been an outstanding supporter of Billiards and Snooker in Australia and for this we owe them an enduring debt of gratitude”. Barrie Jones, the new President of the Australian Billiards and Snooker Council also thanked Mounties and other sponsors: Herion and Smith who supplied the final’s table and Consolidated Leisure and Sport for their generous donation towards the various high breaks made during the tournaments. Mounties vice-president, Steve Fitzpatrick expressed the club’s pleasure in again hosting the event and congratulated the players on their performance over the past week.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULTS: CLICK HERE

AUSTRALIAN OPEN LADIES RESULTS: CLICK HERE