KEY POINTS:
North Harbour bowler Tony Grantham was planning on having Christmas at home in Auckland and returning to work as an engineer on December 27 when he got a phone call from Rowan Brassey telling him to get himself down to Dunedin for the national championships.
Brassey was without a pairs partner after Gary Lawson elected to stay with his seriously ill wife, jockey Judy, who was injured in a riding accident at Rangiora.
Grantham, 34, booked himself a one-way flight south on Christmas Day.
And after he sensationally beat Malaysia's top-ranked player, Safuan Said, yesterday to qualify for the top 16 in the men's singles he has no idea when he'll be going home.
"It's all a bit bewildering," he said after a thrilling 21-20 victory over Said.
"I thought I'd be working and listening to the nationals on the radio."
A North Harbour representative, Grantham credits Brassey with the improvement in his play.
"We've played together at rep level and now here, and he instils so much confidence in you."
But while Grantham was progressing handsomely at Bowls Dunedin headquarters, Brassey, who has never won the singles title, was eliminated at Taieri by Victoria's Ben King who in turn was knocked out by Hokonui's Tony Andrews.
Andrews had a day to remember - he eliminated former pairs champion Wally Marsic, titleholder Alan Dickson and finally King in a 21-20 thriller.
Grantham is drawn to play former singles champion Kelvin Scott (Belfast) for a place in the quarter-finals, and Andrews will meet Reg Sim (Ngongotaha).
Other surprise eliminations were teenager Shannon McIlroy, who was toppled by Sean O'Neill (Kia Toa) and fellow NZ representative Doug Wilson, who lost to Nigel Wright (Leith).
United's Ali Forsyth, who won the title in 2003 and 2004, came through unscathed, with wins against Ula Fusimalohi, veteran Ken Walker and Blair Barringer.
In the women's pairs, defending champions Sharon Sims and Mary Campbell made it to the quarter-finals of the women's pairs after being given a huge scare by teenagers Olivia Davids and Gemma Watts.
They will now meet St Clair's Carolyn Crawford - who sensationally eliminated Jo Edwards from the singles - and Trish Marr.
Hikurangi's Linda Pedro came through in combination with Caroline Downes, at the expense of the top-ranking Malaysians Nor Hashimah Ismail and Siti Zalena Ahmad.
The day's other upset came when Bev Crowe (Hillsboro) and Jo Babich (Henderson) downed internationals Jo Edwards and Val Smith (United) 18-17.
Crowe and Babich were subsequently eliminated by Mary Ann Johnstone and Christine Smitheram (Elmwood).
- NZPA
