Bowls: Te Awamutu's Lynda Bennett wins Aussie disabled title

Australian Open disabled women's singles winner Lynda Bennett (left) and the runner-up Michelle Campbell with their medals at Broadbeach.

Te Awamutu's Lynda Bennett gave the national selectors a gentle reminder of her world-class bowling ability, winning the Australian Open disabled women's singles title at Broadbeach, Gold Coast.

The 2011 world singles champion breezed through section play, winning all her games convincingly against the best disabled bowlers from across the Tasman to meet Australia's top ranked Michelle Campbell in the final.

Bennett was always in charge, winning the final 21-8 to claim the $1000 winner's cheque and medal.

Apart from dropping four shots on one end, the Kiwi restricted Campbell to one shot on each of the other four ends she lost.

"I thought it was going to be a tough game but it was all over in one hour 20 minutes," said Bennett.

"The greens are a lot slower over there and that suited me. I couldn't miss."

Bennett said the experience she gained from playing on greens likely to be used for next year's Commonwealth Games meant more to her than the winning.

"I've been named in a group of six who the national selectors will consider to take over to the Gold Coast for the Games.

"I'd like to think that I have done enough to tick all the boxes for selection."

Bennett said memories of winning silver at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games are still fresh in her mind, providing an incentive for her return in 2018.

"I entered the Australian Open full of determination after missing out on a spot in New Zealand's trans-Tasman team of three for the event. I was determined to let my bowls do the talking on the green."

Bennett says she doesn't play a lot of singles - it's too nerve-racking - making her Australian Open win all the more meritorious.

"It's a massive tournament, so much bigger than the New Zealand Open. The top able-bodied women and men win $13,000 in singles.

At the Glasgow Games, Bennett won silver in the disabled triples with Barry Wynks and Mike Noble.

She said they are a proven team and hopes that the same line-up will be retained for next year's Games on the Gold Coast.

Bennett is something of a triples specialist.

She teamed up with Bruce Wakefield (Christchurch) and Norm Earnshaw (Papatoetoe) to win the New Zealand Open disabled triples earlier this year in Auckland.

She was also runner-up in the pairs, partnered by Pam Walker who Bennett beat at the Australian Open by five shots.

Bennett lives in Te Awamutu but has been competing for Hinuera Bowling Club, helping them win the New Zealand Interclub Championship in Auckland and place third-equal in the New Zealand Pathways Tournament in Dunedin - both able-bodied events.