Having polished his bowls since the inception of the NZ PBA tournament began in 2000, Murray Glassey always harboured a desire to become the top seed.
Fifteen years on the Bowls Heretaunga player travelled to the Pukekohe Cosmopolitan Club in South Auckland on Friday for the PBA finals simply content to defer that dream.
"I had thought about it [becoming No1] because I hadn't been ranked No1 before but it was something I was hoping to achieve next year - I had enough points this year to carry forward to next year so I wasn't expecting to do it this year," a tired but grinning Glassey said last night after claiming his maiden bragging rights as NZ No1.
"It's a great feeling. I've been playing in the PBA since its inception in 2000 so it's good to finally get it," said the 39-year-old, revealing he was hovering around No2-4 several times in the national rankings.
The Heinz-Wattie's cook endured two tough sets and a three-end tiebreaker to overcome Taranaki's Craig Johns to also clinch an entry to the International Singles in Blackpool, England, in March next year.