Sports reports: Alex Bolt falls in first round at Wimbledon

This post includes a contribution from Michael Potts.

Murray Bridge’s Alex Bolt has missed out on causing an upset in his first-round match at Wimbledon 2024.

The 31-year-old lost to Norwegian eighth seed Casper Ruud in straight sets, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4.

It was a close match, with Bolt earning 10 break points but converting just one of them.

Ruud fired 18 aces during the match.

Bolt had come from nowhere to qualify for the tournament, getting a call-up 10 minutes before the start of the men’s singles play-in, then winning his way to the big show.

While his defeat was a blow, it would have been softened by the prize payable to all first-round losers at Wimbledon: £60,000, or about $114,000.

Bolt did not qualify for the men’s doubles competition at Wimbledon this year.

Groundskeeper tops the field at Murray Bridge Golf Club

Josh Doyle has won Saturday’s men’s par competition in Murray Bridge in icy and showery conditions which limited the field to just 46 participants.

Being one of the club’s groundskeepers, Doyle had an intimate knowledge of the lay of the land around Ritter Street and took full advantage.

Keeping out of trouble for most of the day, he beat his handicap for a final tally of two up, which was a great effort in the tough going.

Only the real diehard golfers took the game on, with most getting to the finish line as winter really announced its arrival.

Tyson Wright put his second shot in on the short dog-leg par four 15th hole to claim an eagle and a handful or two of balls from the eagle’s nest.

Lucas Merchant blitzed the back nine for a brilliant four-up to win the pro comp, and Matt Kowald played his only decent shot for the day – his words – on the par three 11th to win him the yabby.

It will be time for a stroke round this Saturday, a real challenge for all.

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