Bowls: Day one knockout for star bowler Girdler

New Zealand international Paul Girdler's return from his Sydney base for the men's nationals in Wellington got off to an uncertain start when he became the biggest casualty on day one of the championships.

With 496 competitors in 62 sections of eight playing four matchesyesterday, all those recording three wins or more were assured a place in the draw for the knockout stage when singles play resumes on Monday.

Girdler opened with a 15-21 loss to Jim Martin from Paraparaumu Beach, recovering to win his next two matches 21-3 and 21-12.

But Dean Stratford from Naenae, already safely through with 3 straight wins, ended the big left-hander's singles campaign with a 21-11 win in the final round. Girdler will stay to contest the pairs and fours over the remainder of the two-week event.

Big names and TAB favourites progressing with three straight wins and few problems include Rowan Brassey and his 21-year-old pairs partner Jamie Hill from Avondale in Auckland, the Canterbury duo of Andrew Curtain and Gary Lawson, and 2001 beaten finalist Terry Scott of Dunedin.

The 1991 and 2000 singles champ, Petar Sain, is also safely through after 3 wins, as is recent Superbowls indoor singles winner Rob Ashton of Johnsonville. Tokoroa duo Kevin Robinson and Neville Risbridge, Steve Posa and Raika Gregory, both of Frankton Railway in Hamilton, and Bay of Plenty's Clive Phillips and Graham Skellern also went through with 3 from 3.

A number of profile players were taken to the last round before qualifying, including Mike Reid and Ross Haresnape from Brassey's Avondale four, NZ under-18 rep Shannon McIlroy from Gisborne, NZ EAD international Peter Horne and Bruce Henderson from Wellington, and Glen McDonald, Steve Beel and Jim Scott all from the South Island.

But losing in the last round meant that former international David File, Hinuera's Kevin Smith, and another under-18 international Robbie Marshall from Thames all suffered the same fate as Girdler.

Other casualties from earlier in the day included national squad members Adam Newman and Sean Robertson, both of Victoria in Wellington, and South Islanders Sean O'Neill and Kelvin Budge.

A total of 186 players came through for the post-section knockout draw in singles.

Attention switches to the first of two days of qualifying in pairs today, with 362 teams starting out on 26 greens spread around the capital.