Bester v Kelly rematch set to whet the appetite for 2024 Australian Open
The Broadbeach Bowls Club will stage a one night spectacular on the Friday before the commencement of the 2024 Australian Open (AO) as Ryan Bester and Gary Kelly face off for a rematch of their 2023 World Bowls Championships men’s singles final.
Bester and Kelly will once again stride on to green four at the club to showcase their skills in an extravaganza that will almost certainly dazzle fans both at home and in attendance as the world’s biggest bowls festival kicks off.
The Canadian was able to finally salute in 2023 after taking home two silvers in the discipline in previous editions of the tournament, overcoming Kelly 21-16 in a tight final.
Former Right at Home Jackaroo Barrie Lester, who now works at Broadbeach and the mastermind behind the match, is supremely excited for the contest and the anticipation it will bring for the AO.
“It’s the rematch! Ryan Bester taking on Gary Kelly from last year’s World Bowls Championships singles final on the same green nearly a year later,” Lester told Bowls Australia’s Without Bias program.
“It’s an initiative that I came up with initially being close mates with Ryan and Gary. I wondered when they would have the rematch and just thought why don’t we do it ourselves?
“I went to the board and management here at Broadbeach and they were all for it so basically on June 7 at 6:30pm AEST we’ll have a TV rink set up on green four below our brand new terrace.
“What a great way to launch the Australian Open.”
Ryan Bester and Gary Kelly’s rematch will take place at 6:30pm on Friday, June 7, at the Broadbeach Bowls Club with live streaming on Bowls Australia’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
