The Men’s Singles Championship was played over the weekend.

Saturday was hot with gusty winds, Sunday was even hotter with just a little wind but a beautiful cloudless day.

We had 16 entries with a few players away or unable to be available for all the days allocated.

Starting at 8.30am, four rounds were played with each bowler playing three rounds and marking one.

Sheryl Wellington kindly offered to run the Saturday so the two Allan’s/Alans could concentrate on playing, unfortunately that didn’t work with both, not qualifying.

Sheryl also umpired, using the laser measure a couple of times.

We also needed two extra markers for each round and a big thankyou goes to Graeme McGregor and Larry Cain in the morning and Rosemary Nicol and Flora Macdonald in the afternoon all marking two games each..

Also thank to Allan Langley, Bill Lowe, Garth Partridge and Phil Chisholm for marking the first round of post section on Sunday.

 

We were looking like we could end up with seven or eight or nine qualifiers for post section but fortunately we ended up with eight, this gave us four quarterfinals which was perfect.

The eight qualifiers were:

Peter Orgias, David Payne, Gordon Jenkins, Michael Thomas, Arthur Beale, Tony Stanaway, John Gledhill and Murray Radojkovich.

Other notable bowlers that did not qualify apart from the Allan’s/Alans were Phil Chisholm, Barry Baillie and last year’s winner Leon Wech.

Quarter finals:

David Payne beat Murray Radojkovich 21-10. David started really well and Murray was unable to catch up.

Peter Orgias defeated Tony Stanaway 21-10. Peter started well also and Tony could not peg him bag. It was good result for the match committee as Tony as president was to mark the final.

We did not have a plan B if he qualified for the final.

Michael Thomas defeated John Gledhill 21-17 in a close game which ebbed and flowed with both bowlers playing some great shots.

Gordon Jenkins defeated Arthur Beale 21-11. Gordon raced away to a big lead but Arthur came back but had too much to catch up.

 

Semi-finals.

David Payne defeated Peter Orgias 21-14. Peter led early, but David finally got the lead in the twelve end and held on.

Michael Thomas defeated Gordon Jenkins 21-20. Both bowlers probably didn’t play as well as they had done in previous games with the score changing regularly but Michael held his nerve to win the last two ends to grab the win.

 

FINAL. David Payne v Michael Thomas. This was a long game, just under three hours, 34 ends including a kill. And close result.  Michael Thomas defeating David Payne 21-20.

 

After eight ends Michael led  5-4, after sixteen ends it was 12-5 to Michael. After twenty two ends it was 13-12 to Michael, anyone’s game.

After thirty ends David  had got ahead leading 18-16, still very close. David picked up a two  on the next end and lead 20-16.

Michael  picked up a three on the next end 20-19 to David.

As he did in his previous finals matches Michael he held his nerve in the last couple of ends and he picked up a two to take the title 21-20.

Congratulations and well done Michael.  

Many thanks to John Lindsay who prevented a bye, all the markers, everyone who set up the greens also the kitchen and the bar and anyone else that assisted over both days.

Also to Tony for Marking the final, one of the longest we have ever had.

Also Sheryl and Allan and Alan for running the event.

Biggest thanks goes to Colleen for the amazing savoury muffins she made on Saturday they were very much appreciated.

 

Report by Alan Daniels