Ann-Maree Putney in action. Photo courtesy of Baz & Peter Lynch, Photos Forever
EDGEWORTH tenpin bowler Ann-Maree Putney has secured a spot on the Australian team for the World Tenpin Bowling Championships.
The selection comes after Putney's stellar performance at the sixth Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championship in Auckland earlier this month.
The mother of two, along with her three Australian teammates, won the Triple Diamond Trophy at the Commonwealth championships, which is awarded to the team with highest score overall.
Australia netted three gold, a silver and two bronze medals, with Putney featuring in three of the podium performances.
Putney collected gold with Queensland's Brendan Meads in the mixed doubles and then took bronze in the women's doubles with Victorian Bec Whiting.
Putney also won silver in the teams event with Meads, Whiting, and Illawarra's Sam Cooley.
The gold medal in the mixed doubles for the Putney/Meads duo followed a thrilling finish that came down to the wire in the six-game series.
The pair struck out in the final frame to shoot a combined score of 2586, with Putney averaging 214, not far off Meads with 217.
"Brendan threw a turkey [three strokes in a row] and Ann-Maree nailed it with a four-bagger . . . it was a sensational finish," tournament director Tony Lum said.
Putney has now collected 27 gold, silver and bronze medals representing Australia and numerous tournament titles including 2007 Champion of the QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup, the sport's pinnacle individual tournament.
She will now focus on the World Tenpin Bowling Championships, which will be held in Nevada, in the US, in August.