MOSSMAN Bowls Club’s leading man Malachy McTaggart is gearing up to compete in the 2023 Australian Bowls Open in the Gold Coast from this weekend.
After taking third place in the state men’s district sides’ championship in early May and being selected as most valuable player at the tournament, the spirits are high for Mr McTaggart, who will take on the national stage from June 10-23.
“I’m a bit anxious but I’m also excited to step up and get into the biggest Australian tournament there is,” the 20-year-old said.
“My main goal is to be able to go down there and be seen by Queensland selectors, Australian selectors and hopefully have a chance to make it into these very big teams.
“I’ve never got a chance to represent the region since I was a junior and there were only 14 of us. This open is over 1000 people and I’m representing us (FNQ), so it’s a big honour.”
A natural in bowls, Mr McTaggart started playing seven years ago, and beyond junior state championships under his belt, he really started to grow upon his return to the sport with Mossman Bowls Club.
“I started bowling nine years ago but really playing seven years ago,” he said.
“I could’ve done quite well when I was 17, unfortunately that year COVID hit and I lost my last year as a junior.
“Then I took an 18-month break and moved to Mossman and started playing socially with Mossman Bowls Club and a few of the bowlers invited me to bigger tournaments. From then on I’ve got a position in the Tropical Far North Queensland (TFNQ) side.”
Mr McTaggart said he had felt most honoured being selected as most valuable player in the last tournament.
“We competed over four days against 20 teams across Queensland and we played 12 games in a team of four,” he said.
“I personally felt like I hadn’t played up to my standard that week, but the other members had, so it was a huge achievement for me. It almost brought tears to my eyes when I heard it.”
With the boost and trust of his teammates and the club, Mr McTaggart is getting ready to travel this weekend on his own to Gold Coast to tackle the open.
“I will be playing with a Mossman uniform so anyone that sees me knows where I play and gets our little club seen,” he said.
Men’s section secretary David White said the club was proud of him.
“On behalf of the men’s section we wish you all the best at the Australian open,” he said in a Facebook posting.
“Good luck mate playing well,” said Ben Cribbin also on Facebook.
