Bowls: Five-time title winner tops list of surprise casualties

By BOB PEARCE

Phil Skoglund, five-times winner of the national bowls singles title, bowed out of this year's contest in quick order yesterday.

The Palmerston North veteran, needing three out of four games to qualify, lost in the first round 16-22 to Sean Robertson from the Victoria Club in Wellington.

When he went down 16-21 to Clive Claridge, of Mt Maunganui, in the next round his interest in the singles was over.

Skoglund won his first singles in 1958, repeated the effort in 1966 and had the only hat-trick of wins, in 1971, 72 and 73.

He has qualified for the pairs post-section where he is playing with Australian-based Bruce McNish.

Skoglund's sons, Philip and Raymond, surprisingly missed out in the pairs, but qualified for the singles.

McNish, who has won five national titles, was another major casualty in singles qualifying. He lost his last two games, the decider to Peter Clark (Tauranga South) 17-21.

Another multiple title winner, Danny O'Connor, of Okahu Bay, survived narrowly at the death. Needing to win his last game, he beat Paul Stier (Glen Eden) 21-20.

After surprisingly failing to qualify in the pairs, Dunedin bowler Mike Kernaghan (North East Valley) dropped an early game, but won his last easily to advance to post-section in the singles.

Veteran Ivan Kostanich (Helensville) was another to qualify, with a big win in his final game. He won this title in 1977 and again in 1993.

The defending champion, Petar Sain (Carlton), won three straight to qualify, as did his predecessor, Justin Goodwin (Warilla).

Kelvin Scott (Belfast), who captured the title in 1998, won his last to survive.

Among the most impressive winners was New Zealand representative Peter Belliss, who is now playing at the Peregian Beach Club on the Gold Coast.

Belliss last played in the nationals in 1995 after winning the singles in 1981, 1986 and 1992. He raced through yesterday's qualifying, with 21-4, 21-9 and 21-7 victories.

Originally from the Aramoho Club in Wanganui, Belliss was until recently employed by the Noosa Club, but these days devotes much of his time to coaching club and representative squads.

For four months from February he and fellow New Zealander Rowan Brassey play for Cabramatta in the New South Wales premier league.

Brassey is missing from the Tower nationals this year because of a clash with the world indoor bowls in England.

Today and tomorrow, close to 200 fours will contest two days of qualifying. Winners of three and four games will qualify for post-section play.

Sunday will see the start of pairs post-section play. All finals will be on January 8 at Onehunga.