A couple of rain free days has enabled Tuross Head Men’s Bowls to make a start to their 2022 Major Singles Championship. Given the amount of rain that has fallen over the last few weeks, the green keepers have done a wonderful job to have the green in good condition.
Six round one matches were completed with four former Champions, including the defending Champion Peter Macdonald, attempting to win another title. Macdonald’s clash with Marcel Kors was one of several highlights of the day. Right from the opening end this was a very tight game with the players level pegging on 10 separate occasions! Kors edged ahead 18 – 14 after 19 ends only to see Macdonald win the next five ends to grab a five shot advantage at 23 – 18.
It was then Kors’ turn to grab the momentum when he won six of the next seven ends to be agonisingly close to victory at 30 – 25. Macdonald then showed his class and calmness to fight back strongly to win the game 31 – 30!
Runner Up in the recently held Consistency Singles, Jonathan Green, continued his impressive form when he played Stuart Graham in another match that was decided on the last end. Green had a great start and was ahead 10 – 3 before Graham settled into the game. By the 14th end the players were level at 11 all. The lead chopped and changed over the next 12 ends with Graham just ahead at 22 – 21 after 26 ends.
Graham then seemed to be on his way to victory when he moved to 30 – 25 only to see Green win the next 3 ends to draw level at 30 all! Graham was able to grab a match winning shot on the last end to win a great game 30 – 31!
Crowd favourite, 89 year old Lou Kozlik, proved the real winner on the day when he held off a strong comeback from John Monks to move into the second round. Kozlik dominated the first half of the game outplaying Monks to set up a 19 – 10 lead. Monks struck back and gradually narrowed the lead. By the 30th end Kozlik’s lead was just 2 shots at 23 – 21. Then on the next end Kozlik played the shot of the match when he drew the shot when Monks held three shots! From this point Kozlik was able to close the match out and won 31 – 22.
Former Champion Bruce Lidbury played Ben Hewison in a very high quality game with the final score line not reflecting the closeness of the play. Hewison started better and led early before Lidbury drew level at 11 all after 12 ends. Lidbury was able to dominate the next section of the game and two scores of 4 made a big difference. He was able to play the critical bowl when needed and won the match 31 – 21.
Two other former Champions, Noel Downie and Joel Hilliard also moved into round two with good wins in their matches. Downie has regained his best form at the right time and he proved too consistent for Mick Challice who played some excellent bowls. Again the 31 – 14 score line did not reflect the quality of the game. Hilliard was too classy for Mick Atkinson and won 31 – 12.
Lou Kozlik 2022 Major Singles
