Our newest champion

MEET our newest National Champion " ten pin bowling whiz kid Scott Johnston.

Johnston, 17, from Albion Park, won the boys Australian Tenpin Open Masters at the 37th Australian Junior Championships at Oztenpin Bowl, in Melbourne.

The Stikezone bowler produced a 221.3 average on his way to victory.

After easy wins in best-of-five elimination matches early in the tournament, Johnston had a tough clash against fellow NSW bowler James Thiess in the semi-final.

After skipping away to a two-nil lead, Johnston lost the next two games before clinching the rubber in the fifth.

"My opponent bowled brilliantly and I was very relieved when I won the fifth game," he said.

Johnston then won the final, against ACT bowler Justin Petrass, three games straight.

"It was overwhelming when I realised I was a national champion," he said.

"This is definitely the biggest thing I have done in ten pin bowling."

Scott won five medals at the nationals " masters boys, one for making the top 28, second for president shield boys, third for open teams and second for open singles.

Scott said he would like to thank his coach, Lyn Harrison, along with Don McRae and Ed Kee.

Scott credits his win to the support of his southern team mates especially Rowan, Sam, Zoe and Aimee from StrikeZone, his coach Lyn 'Taz' Harrison and to the recent help of the new StrikeZone manager John Hutchin.

Scott said Lyn went out of her way to give him some last minute words of advice which worked and just before he left for Melbourne John drilled a new ball that he had just received.

Congratulations must also go to his fellow Southern NSW president shield team mates, who took out Silver in the boys event and placed fifth in the girls.

From the Illawarra we had in the boys team Rowan Chapman and Sam Cooley while Jessica Jones, Ashleigh Kloot, Aimee Bennett competed in the girls, with Zoe Lawson in the training squad.

The Illawarra and the Southern NSW team brought home a swag of meals, including Johnston's open junior master title.

Illawarra Junior Tenpin president Steve Johnston said the results are testament to quality of talent in the Illawarra.