2017 NZ PBA Rookie of the Year Ray Martin (Wellington) continued his rise on the Professional Bowls Association scene by winning entry into the World Indoor Singles to be played at the Potter’s Leisure Resort in Norfolk, England in January. Playing with Classic II bowls to ensure a good draw on the indoor carpet, Martin was too steady overcoming local favourite Dean Drummond in the semifinal and Dunedin’s Duane White in the final 9-7, 9-1. Martin will line up for the richest prize in bowls with the victor in January earning GBP50,000.
Ray was beaten earlier in the Professional Bowls Association Finals weekend at the Hastings Club in the quarterfinals of the Scottish Singles national playoffs by local favourite Murray Glassey 15-5, 10-4 who went to win that trip.
Richard Corry and Laurie Guy lost their semifinal of the World Indoor Pairs playoffs also to the winners of that event Helen Carman and Mario Sopp from Dunedin 10-7, 3-9, 2-1.