The Kyabram-based Moama Steamer celebrated the milestone birthday shortly after securing her place in the Australian Bowls Open women’s singles final, after a gruelling series of knockouts over the weekend on the Gold Coast.
After comfortably making her way out of section play on Wednesday, Cartwright progressed from the round of 128 all the way through to the final after six straight wins on Saturday and Sunday.
She secured some notable scalps on her journey through the knockouts, including sweeping aside 2023 world champion Tayla Bruce 21-1 and eliminating Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kristina Van Nierop (née Kristic) in the round of 32.
Cartwright was just a shot away from her own campaign ending in the round of 16, Malaysian bowler Syafiqa Haidar Afif Abdul Rahman leading her 20-14 in the first-to-21 format, but the Moama representative showed her quality, not only salvaging the game, but scoring the required seven shots in just three ends.
She scored consecutive threes before ticking over to 21 with a single shot on the deciding end.
“I just simply went back to basics and trusted myself,” Cartwright said.
“I was starting to bowl really well, so I knew that I just had to nail that first one and put her under pressure, and in that way I prevailed.
“It was very nervous, but once I trusted myself and the shots I played, it all worked out fine.”
Cartwright scored more convincing wins in the quarters, 21-15 against West Australian Lisa Featherby, and semi-finals, 21-14 over Cabramatta’s Jessie Cottell, to make her way into her first Australian Open singles final.
No stranger to deep finals runs, Cartwright was a quarter-finalist last year at the event but fell to the woman she will now face in the grand final, Dawn Hayman.
Hayman has been capped 97 times for Australia, was runner-up in the 2022 Australian Open, and defeated Cartwright 21-6 12 months ago.
“I'm looking forward to playing (Hayman) again,” Cartwright said.
“She's well and truly got a number of years more than me under her belt, but I'm looking forward to the challenge and once again just backing my ability.
“I'm in good form, so anything can happen on the day.”
The final between Cartwright and Hayman is set down for 2pm on Thursday, June 19, the finals of all divisions held off until the last two days of the tournament on Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, Cartwright has also advanced to the quarter-finals of the fours event, and is on to the round of 32 in the pairs, where she also looks poised to make a deep run, teaming up with last year’s singles champion Laura Butler.
It has been a significant 18 months for Cartwright, who, along with her run at last year’s open, also picked up the 2024 Victorian Open triples title and was capped by Australia for the first time in that period.
“(I take) every opportunity that I get to play bowls, play with other people, get out and train.
“It's like in life, you're continuously learning, and I'm continuously doing that through bowls, through practice, and through conversations with others.
“So I think I’m going from strength to strength, and I'm grateful for everyone who has supported me in that way.”
Moama’s Cassandra Millerick, who won the 2023 singles event, and partner Kylie Lavis have joined Cartwright in the women’s pairs round of 32, which is ongoing on Tuesday.
In the men’s singles, the best local performer was Cameron Keenan, who progressed to the round of 32.
In the pairs, Keenan also scored the best result, advancing to the round of 32 with Queensland partner Joel Downey.
The junior divisions get started on Wednesday.
The women’s singles final between Olivia Cartwright and Dawn Hayman will be streamed on 7plus, Fox Sports and Kayo from 2pm on Thursday.
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