Bowls titles decided at Stadium 2000

Play is well underway and a couple of titles have already been decided during the 71^st National Open and Masters Indoor Bowls championships, being staged at Stadium 2000 this week.

Overall, nearly 800 bowlers are competing in the week-long event, with 66 Marlborough players taking part.

The action began on Saturday, with singles titles up for grabs in both the Open and Masters sections.

Winner of the national Open crown was Shaun Blackbourn of St Andrews in the Waikato, who downed Sheree Holmes of Upper Hutt 10-8 in the final on Sunday.

Victorious in the Masters singles was Tom Kaan from North End, after he beat Henry Pratt of Gate Pa, 11-6 in the decider.

Section play in the pairs was contested on Monday, with post-section play taking place today.

In the Open final Ali Wilson and Liz Morrow from the Hillsborough club in Taranaki beast Gary and Graham Low from the Grasmere club in Southland 9-6. The Masters title was won by Barry and Helen Black from the Central club in South Canterbury, beating Marilyn Baskiville and Jill McQuoid from St Therese in Auckland 8-6 in the decider.