Bowls: Second title a stage closer

Defending champion Dot Curry from Hamilton City has won a place in the last eight of this year's singles event at the women's national championships in Dunedin.

Having qualified for the knockout phase of the Tower-sponsored event with three wins on Monday, Curry powered to wins by 21-5 over Norma Hutchinson of Elmwood and 21-8 over Gisborne's Bobbie Beattie, before beating national Academy representative Mina Paul from Ngongotaha 21-13 to take her quarter-final berth.

Her opponent tomorrow will be Kerikeri's Linda Pedro, who was the winner by 21-8 over Madeleine Holland of Browns Bay in their last-16 match.

In the second quarter of the draw, Judy Heeman from Maitai will face four-time singles champion Millie Khan.

Heeman put paid to the hopes of Nelson team-mate Val Smith 21-10 in the last 32, and then conquered world fours champion, Millie Khan's daughter Jan Khan, by 21-12.

Millie Khan earlier beat four consecutive Wellington opponents. Jenny Hynam from The Park, Kilbirnie was first under the hammer, beaten 21-14, before Piki Hitch from Workingmens stepped to the mat, only to lose 21-8.

Evergreen Judy Howat, also from The Park, fared better going down 21-16, and Tawa's Mary Walker lost 21-11.

In the bottom half of the draw Shona Klemich, who beat Henderson's Keren Guy 21-15, will play Mary Campbell.

Campbell, the Northern club's academy international and last year's runner-up to Curry, won the all-Palmerston North clash 21-20 over Terrace End's experienced Fran Frith.

A possible all-Northern semifinal is a prospect after club-mate and pairs partner Sharon Sims beat Ronda Anderson from Cromwell 21-18 to move into the last eight.

Anderson had earlier claimed the notable scalp of Marlene Castle, 21-17.

Sims will play Maureen Parker of New Lynn after the Aucklander upset international Patsy Jorgensen 21-7 in their last 16 clash.

Only one round is needed today to find the semifinalists for Monday's gala day, when the pairs and singles events will be decided.

Then the action switches back to the 133 surviving teams in the pairs for tomorrow and Sunday's play.