Jill Hopper, Deb Gorin & Michelle Tait finish runners up in 2023 Victorian Open Triples Final at Traralgon

Victoria Bowling Club’s Jill Hopper & Debbie Gorin (Victoria) and Michelle Tait (BMS) fell just short of a Victorian Open title in reaching the final of the 2023 Victorian Open Triples on Saturday, 1st April 2023 at Traralgon Bowling Club.

The final was an encounter of the highest quality and the result could have gone either way. In the wash up, there were a couple of pivotal shots that swung the result the way of the Ballarat team’s opponents. What an amazing achievement to make it to the final and to have gone so close to getting the win.

Their opponents in the final were highly rated bowlers Sophie Kurzman (Club Sunbury), Kate Argent-Bowden (Angaston) and Tristania Doolan (MCC) who cut a swathe through their side of the draw with some outstanding bowling.

Sophie Kurzman is well known around the Ballarat district as a former City Oval bowler back in her much younger days before heading to Club Sunbury Bowling Club to play in their top division.

Sophie represented Victoria in the Under-18 team and the Ballarat Gold Diggers and is currently part of the Victorian state team and destined for much bigger things.

Her teammates, Kate and Tris are quality bowlers at the highest level.

Jill, Debbie & Michelle won a thrilling semi final at Traralgon by one shot against Maddison Jacobs (Ocean Grove), Chloe Collins (Trevallyn) and Amity Bickley in a match that required an extra end to find the winner.

The final scoreline was 16-15 in favour of the Ballarat team and Victoria’s Deb Gorin said all three were excited to be playing in a Victorian Open Triples final.

“I can’t believe it,” Deb said.

“We are so proud of the way we bowled and making it the final and we are so tired because we never had a bye in the morning and it was three tough games today.”

“Winning the semi final against quality bowlers is super and now we have to work out how to get back for the final on Saturday because we were ready to go home on Thursday.”

“We all played well together over the two days and Michelle was a great skip and it’s just so exciting to be in a Victorian Open final.”