Pitham comes out blazing
Brody Pitham has signalled his intentions at the Australian Indoors...
East Cessnock’s Brody Pitham has signalled his intentions on the opening morning of the Australian Indoor Championships after blazing his way through to the second round.
During a scintillating display, the 24-year-old needed just 75 minutes to dispose of Strathmore’s Alan Crowle 13-6, 7-6, setting up a clash with Sandy Bay’s Robert McMullen later today.
Widely regarded as one of the nation’s finest indoor players, Pitham has struggled to find his form at Tweed Heads over the years, with last year’s quarter-final appearance the first time he had advanced past the opening round from five attempts.
Nonetheless, Pitham looked full of purpose this morning as he became the first player through to the final 16 with a straight sets win.
“Hopefully this year I can go a little further,” Pitham said.
“I’ve always struggled the first couple of games.
“A few ends I had a bit of touch, and a few (others) I was a little bit scratchy…but it wasn’t too bad a start.”
McMullen booked his ticket through to the second round with a 9-5, 10-3 victory over Heathmont’s Michael Henderson, while Blayney’s Lee Stinson edged out Weston Creek’s Garry Penyu 9-4, 7-2.
In the women’s event, Sunbury’s Chloe Stewart ended the run of Charlestown’s Gayle Gannon with an 8-5, 9-5 victory.
Having previously represented Australia in golf at the Espirito Santo Trophy World Ladies Tournament in Buenos Aires in 1972, claiming a top-five finish in the process. Gannon was gunned down by the 15-year-old, who is the youngest player in this year’s field.
Meanwhile, Bomaderry’s Marjorie Patterson has booked a showdown with Castle Hill’s Debbie Howard after both players joined the winners’ list.
Patterson triumphed over Katherine’s Bronwyn Chandler 7-6, 10-4, while Howard accounted for Glenroy’s Sharon Whana 9-8, 6-5.
The round one action continues from Tweed Heads at 10am this morning.
Click here for more information on the 2011 Australian Indoor Championships.
Caption: Australian A squad member has moved through to the second round of the Indoors.
