Ballarat Highlands Bowling Region Champion of Champions competition kicked off on Sunday, contested by men’s and women’s singles champions from all region clubs.
This includes all clubs in the local Highlands Region.
The first two knockout rounds of the finals took place at Central Wendouree, Kyneton, Webbcona and Woodend bowling clubs.
Woodend returned as a finals venue after the extensive rebuild of its two greens following the drastic floods of 2022.
Bowlers moving on to the next round, having won both their games at Woodend, were Denise Knight (Kyneton), Grace Tavener (Kilmore), Greg Podesta (Kyneton) and Aaron Young (Romsey).
Knight beat Lesley Ritchie (Macedon) 26-17 and Catherine Pevitt (Trentham) 27-13 and Tavener eliminated Helene Stenning (Victoria) 25-14 and Michelle Tait (BMS) 26-11.
Podesta defeated David Ellis (Broadford) 25-5 and Tim Cook (Trentham) 25-13, while Young toppled Stephen Byron (BMS) 25-18 and Matthew McMaster (Kilmore) 25-20.
Umpires for the day were Mike Dornau (Woodend) and Simon Mayger (Romsey).
Woodend champion Stephen Pickles travelled to Central Wendouree and played one of the games of the day against Learmonth’s Grant Bourke. After 34 ends over three hours, Bourke won 25-24.
Winners from Sunday’s competitions progress to the third round to be played this Sunday February 23, with the regional winners to then move on to contest further rounds in the state finals.
– Mike Dornau, secretary, Highlands Region Pennant Committee
