| Mens Singles Stormed by Young, Ambitious and Talented Bowlers at NZ Open |
 |
Is lawn bowls still the preserve of an older, greyer crowd? Certainly not any more, as today`s results from The Trusts NZ Open 2012 men`s singles qualifiers proved.
Red-blooded, talented and fiercely competitive, bowlers like 22-year-old Ray Martin (Victoria), 19-year-old Monte Pawa (Kaitaia Combined) and Black Jack Shannon McIlroy`s comparatively youthful older brother, Adam McIlroy (Clarks Beach), crashed through their sections to finish the day with a clean sweep record – the majority of each bowler`s three games being taken by gaping-wide point margins.
Martin and Pawa, in particular, are of the new breed of Kiwi bowlers coming up through the ranks at a meteoric rate and amassing numerous accolades in the process.
Both bowlers have played for NZ in the annual Trans-Tasman event – Martin in the under-25 team and Pawa in the under-18 team. Pawa was also runner-up in the men`s singles at last year`s NZ Open.
This year is Martin`s first time at the tournament, but his strong showing today is a good indicator of things to come.
“I had a great day and I`m in the triples tomorrow as well, so hopefully we`ll qualify in that too,” Martin said.
“I`m just going to take each opponent as they come and work my way up to the finals.”
[Ray also qualified in the pairs playing with Monte Pawa]