Harvey bowlers Dave Goddard, Cam Wellington and Calvin Rodgers hit the Gold Coast for Australian Open
Three members of the Harvey Bowls Club headed to Queensland last month to compete against the best of the best at the 2024 Australian Bowls Open.
Dave Goddard reached the top cut of players at the tournament, Cam Wellington, 17, had a great show in the juniors division and Calvin Rodgers managed to take home silver in the vision impaired-singles.
Goddard was the first to hit the green at the open, competing against 1400 players from across the country and reaching the top 32 in his efforts.
“At that stage, you’re playing the best of the best,” he said.
Goddard said he was knocked out at the same level as the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Aaron Wilson.
“So when I look back, if he’s getting beat at that stage it’s a pretty good effort,” he said.
Despite his success at reaching so far into the competition, Goddard said he was disappointed in losing his final match 21-2.
“It was the worst loss I’ve had in a long, long time,” he said.
“But I look back and realise, I was beaten by quality and it just wasn’t my day.
“That’s bowls, you learn lessons from your losses.”
Goddard said he is going to persist and continue to practice, hoping to return to the Open in a few years time for the Harvey club.
“I’ve got a goal here, we have to win a premiership before I look at moving on,” he said.
Joining Goddard at the open was teenager Cam, who took a swing at the juniors competition.
Cam said it was a good experience, which taught him a lot playing against the best the Eastern States had to offer.
While Cam was not able to go too deep into the competition, he was ultimately happy with his attempt.
“The guy who beat me went on to win the whole thing,” he said.
Cam said despite the perception of bowls was a game for older people, but he loves playing.
“It’s all about skill, with different conditions, different speed of the grain, even the wind can play a factor,” he said.
“And it really doesn’t matter about age, I’ve been able to play with my grandad.”
Cam said the support of the club and community has been vital in his development as a player.
He wanted to give a special thanks to club member Robyn Coleman, who invited him to attend a Harvey Rotary Club meeting where he received $500 towards his trip.
It was that funding alongside an Australian Sports Grant for Youth, which allowed Cam to make it to the competition.
Turning 18 next year, Cam is eager to return to the tournament next year.
“The Australian Open finishes on June 20 next year, and my birthday is on the 23rd,” he said.
“So, I’ve got one more year by about three days.”
Likely to be joining Cam at the open next year will be Calvin Rodgers, who dominated the vision-impaired singles scene all the way to a nail-biting final.
Unlike the open Goddard played in, Rodgers’ competition was much smaller and more intense straight from the get-go, with only 16 players from across the country competing.
Scorching through the early competition, Rodgers arrived at the finals to “play against his “nemesis” - Jake Fehlberg.
Rodgers has come up against Fehlberg three times in competitions over the past four years, and has yet to beat him. However, his showing at this year’s final he gave Fehlberg a serious run for his money.
Rodgers dominated the early game with a tremendous lead of 8-1, but Fehlberg closed the gap, entering the final round with Rodgers on 19 and Fehlberg on 20.
As he failed to secure the final two points needed for victory in the final round, Rodgers admitted the outcome was disappointing given his early lead.
“Rather than feeling that I’ve won the silver, I feel I’ve lost the gold,” he said.
Despite the outcome of the final round, Rodgers was happy with the journey to get there.
As Rodgers has impaired vision, he was joined in his match by cousin Jason Scheutjens who worked as his director.
“He is probably one of the most observant people that you’ll ever meet,” he said.
“At the end of the day, I think the bowler is only ever as good as the director allows you to be.”
Rodgers is by no means resting after his close call with victory.
In two weeks, he will travel back to New South Wales to take compete in the Australian Nationals, though he sadly will not have a redemption match against Fehlberg.
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