Bowls: Khan's four crash out of title chase

Millie Khan's dreams of a third consecutive fours title foundered at the national women's championships in Tauranga yesterday.

Khan's four, comprising her daughters Marina and Jan, and Mina Paul, crashed in the first round of post-section play to former winners Putaruru, led by Val Mathews.

Mathews, a winner with Putaruru in 1996, beat Khan 17-9, but then lost to Tokoroa's Noeline Christie.

It was a day for upsets. The 1998 winner, Mata McEwan, from St Clair was beaten by the four of Corry Middelburg from Henderson, 18-16, Judy Howat from The Park in Wellington was beaten by another national representative, Sharon Sims of the Northern club, and then Sims lost to Mt Maunganui's Pam Stevens in the next round.

The form team from New Lynn, comprising the pairs champions, Norma Stewart and Janice Scott, and the singles runner-up, Hetty Bolscher, lost to Hawera Park's Lola Bigham in another close tussle, 14-13.

New Zealand selector Anne Muir of Whangarei was one to benefit, winning her first three rounds to qualify for today's round of 16.

Adrienne Lambert of Tauranga South has not won a fours title since her triple successes with the Matamata club which ended in 1991, and struggled through section play. But her team of Shirley Riedinger, Helen Maguire and Del Hawke fought through post-section with two tight wins to stay alive.

Another recent Bay of Plenty arrival, Commonwealth Games bowler and current world champion triples player Patsy Jorgensen, also Tauranga South, won the last match of the day, beating Tokoroa's Christie 19-11.

There are two rounds today, with the semifinals and final set for tomorrow.

- NZPA