Kylie Whitehead's hopes of playing for Australia have received a major boost with the star Wodonga bowler named in the Emerging Jackroos squad.
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The 2019 World Bowls Champion of Champion singles winner has been rewarded for her consistent performances over a number of years.
If COVID rules permit, Whitehead will attend Bowls Australia camps throughout the year and work closely with national high performance coaches.
"I definitely wasn't expecting it, but it will be very exciting," she said.
"They expect you to play in a few events across the year to make sure you're getting the competition against good level players.
"It's quite a commitment, but it will be a good experience."
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Whitehead took a step back from Ovens and Murray pennant this season, but has still been bowling to a high standard.
She recently won her eighth straight club singles title at Wodonga and also claimed the Ovens and Murray fours and triples prior to Christmas.
"I earned my way through to the World Champion of Champions, but being selected and getting picked to play for Australia is definitely an honour," she said.
"I bought a house at the end of last year and kind of wanted to enjoy life away from bowls a bit.
"Now being in the squad, I'll have to knuckle down again and this has given me the motivation to get back into it and fully commit to the sport again.
"It will be a good experience to learn from the coaches, have access to them and just be part of the whole program."
Whitehead, Yackandandah's Mary Tragardh and YMGCR's Caroline Reilly reached the semi-finals of the women's triples at Bowls Victoria's Champions Week in Warrnambool and lost by a shot on Wednesday.
Tragardh also performed well in the 60 and over women's singles, but was eliminated in the semi-finals of that event on Thursday.
YMGCR's Anne Miles and Wangaratta's Ian Brimblecombe were beaten in the first round of the mixed pairs tournament.