LAST year, tenpin bowler Sam Cooley won his maiden Orange Open title.
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This weekend he plans to defend it.
The 22-year-old will be back on Orange Tenpin Bowl lanes this weekend as he hunts the West Orange Motors Orange Open.
So, how does he plan to defend his title?
“Hopefully the same way I did last year,” Cooley said.
“I think I led from day one through to the end.”
Cooley said his form is “a bit up and down at the moment” but he’s hoping to use this weekend as a warm-up for next week’s Malaysian Open.
If he can record another win, it will be notable as he will have to topple international star and Orange’s own Jason Belmonte.
“Belmo is there so he’s definitely competition. George Frilingos [Australian representative] is also there,” Cooley said.
“I’ve got a pretty good record against George, so I’ve just got to try and get a good record against Belmo.”
Other former winners David Rosser, Jamie Kyriacou and Sam Romeo will also be trying to add another title to their list of achievements.
The Orange Open has changed from the 2013 event.
In previous years, competitors would bowl 10 qualifying games before the field was cut to the top 32, and then the top 16.
In 2014, there will be only one cut.
Bowlers will roll 10 qualifying games today and the top 32 will bowl another 10 games tomorrow morning to decide the 2014 winner.
The first squad will start bowling at 9.30am today and the second squad at 1.30pm.
The top 32 will bowl from 9am tomorrow with the winner expected to be decided by 12.30pm.
Spectators are welcome.
michelle.cook@fairfaxmedia.com.au