Julie misses gold by whisker

A MILLIMETRE. That was all that was between Julie Keegan and a Commonwealth Games lawn bowls triples gold medal.

Julie, who plays for Coolum Beach, nearly produced the bowl of her life to snatch a win over South Africa on Sunday night. “You dream of those times and having the chance to do something special,” she said from New Delhi yesterday.

“That’s how you want to win.”

Playing Australia’s final shot in the tie-breaker, Julie unleashed a powerful drive.

It shaved South Africa’s shot bowl by a hair’s breadth.

“I let it go and I thought it was good,” she said.

She was not alone. Everyone at home went up, too.

If it had struck its target, Australia would have had shot, and won 4-3.

The Australians – Sharyn Renshaw, Claire Duke and Julie – went down 9-6, 4-8, 4-3.

The Australians had pushed South Africa to the absolute brink, with the scores tied 3-3 entering the last end of the tiebreaker.

Australia held a shot in the decisive final end.

But an incredible delivery from South African skip Susanna Nel cannoned off an Australian bowl into the shot bowl and came to rest on the jack.

Then came Julie’s drive.

Coast bowler Kelsey Cottrell started her singles campaign spectacularly, winning her opening four matches.