FORMER world singles champion of champions winners Brett Wilkie and Aron Sherriff staged a herculean battle for the crown in the Australian Open Championship men’s final today at the Broadbeach Bowls Club on Queensland’s Gold Coast total.

In an entertaining encounter, Sherriff, who won the world title on Norfolk Island in 2010, defeated Wilkie, the 2009 champion at Ayr in Scotland, 21-15 to claim the $13,000 winner’s purse.

In all, the Australian Open Championships offered a $250,000 prizemoney pool, which ranks it as the world’s most lucrative event.

The men’s singles final was a crackerjack affair with both former world champions – Sherriff and Wilkie were also teammates when Australia won men’s fours gold at the 2012 world championships in Adelaide – playing superbly in the testing windy conditions.

Earlier in the day on the television rink, reigning world women’s pairs champion Rebecca Van Asch demonstrated the form which saw her also win gold in Adelaide, as she skipped fellow Blackjack Anne Johns to gold and the $10,000 winners cheque in an all-Australian final against 2008 world women’s fours champion Julie Keegan and reigning world junior singles champion Ellen Ryan.

2016 Australian Open Championship

Today’s finals:

Men’s singles: Aron Sherriff (NSW) d Brett Wilkie (Qld) 21-15.

Men’s fours: Steve Dennis, Nathan Pedersen, Wayne Ruediger, Scott Thulborn (SA) d Josh Thornton, Jerome Coles, Wayne Wilson, Barrie Lester (Vic) 16-13.

Women’s pairs: Anne Johns (NSW), Rebecca Van Asch (Tas) d Ellen Ryan (NSW), Julie Keegan (Qld) 21-14.

Under-18 Boys singles: Jono Davis (NSW) d Josh Studham (SA) 21-13.

Under-18 Girls singles: Tiffany Brodie (Vic) d Jessica Srisamruaybai (Qld) 21-19.

PHOTO: Australian Open men’s singles finalists Brett Wilkie and Aron Sherriff.