Confessions of a teenage giant slayer

Teenage giant slayer Lisa Phillips has conceded her heart was in her mouth in the dying moments of the women’s singles final at the $40,000 BCiB Queensland Open.

Despite holding one on the final end of the tie-break, good enough for the championship, the 17-year-old was hoping for some divine intervention as former world champion Carmen Anderson stepped on to the mat.

But there would be no stopping Phillips, who has not put a foot wrong since stepping on the Bribie Island greens rocking her black mohawk and aviators, as the Victorian young gun watched Anderson’s final effort swing wide allowing her to claim her maiden Bowls Australia grand prix crown.

“I’m still shaking, but I’m pretty excited, pretty pumped to get over the line,” Phillips said following her 10-1, 6-8, 2-1 victory.

“I’m still nervous.”

During an incredible run, Phillips had to play a past or present international in every round of the competition, eliminating former Australian representative Di Cunnington in her opening match before doing likewise to world number five and pre-tournament favourite Kelsey Cottrell.

Ironically, Cottrell remains the circuit’s youngest ever singles winner after claiming the Queensland Open in 2007 as a 17-year-old herself, piping Phillips by a matter of weeks.

Nonetheless, the Richmond Union recruit, who hails from Yallourn, rose to the occasion as she also put the sword to current Australian squad member Kelli Wray and former Scottish superstar Kay Moran in the quarter and semi-finals before confronting Anderson in today’s championship decider.

“It’s amazing, just playing against them is a real honour and to beat them it’s just like wow,” Phillips said.

“I just want to keep up my current form and see what the future offers.”

Having represented Australia at under-18 level earlier this year, Phillips is being touted as one of the game’s next stars and joins an impressive list of winners at the Queensland Open which includes Cottrell, world championship gold medallist Claire Duke and Australian under-25 representative Bec Quail.

Click here for end by end scoring of the BCiB Queensland Open women’s singles final.

Caption: Teenage giant slayer Lisa Phillips has been crowned this year’s BCiB Queensland Open singles champion.