Club Sunbury’s Akasha Fortune had to overcome nerves to claim her first under-18 state championships to claim the singles girls title.
Fortune, who has competed in the championships for seven or eight years, finally tasted success on Sunday.
Facing Drysdale’s Maya Rees, Fortune held her nerve to win the under-18 girls singles title 21-13.
Fortune said it was an incredible moment.
“It’s pretty cool,” she said. “I thought I would go alright, it doesn’t feel real.
“It was pretty nerve wracking. I was shaking and everything.
“Once I started bowling my nerves calmed and I was ready to go.”
The title has been a couple of years in the making. She won the girls pairs in 2022 and was runner up the year after in the singles.
“It was my first big win,” she said.
Fortune also competed in the mixed pairs with Josh Leszcynski, where they were knocked out in the first round.
She made the second round of the open triples with Lily Dodd and Rees.
It’s been a big couple of months for Fortune on the green.
Her and Josh Leszczynski won gold in the under-18 mixed pairs event at the Victorian Open.
She made the final of the region mixed pairs with her father Danny Fortune, losing to Club Sunbury teammates Marc Bullows and Carla Krizanic.
Last year, she was one of four Sunbury players to make the Junior Nugget competition.
Fortune said the under-18 state title was the highlight of her achievements.
Having started playing when she was eight as he dad played. Fortune will soon move into the open ranks.
She’s hoping to make another under-18 state team first and then try and make the open under-18 team and step up at Club Sunbury in its pennant side.
“Hopefully I’ll get a trial to play in the under-18 side, I was part of it in 2021.
“Then I’m out of under-18s try to get into the open side.”
Tara Murray
