Ian Monaghan added to his glittering trophy cabinet with his win in the Wairarapa Open Singles. PHOTO/FILE
BOWLS
CHRIS COGDALE
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Ian Monaghan was all class as he won his 70th Bowls Wairarapa centre title with victory in the Men’s Open Singles at Masterton on Sunday.
However, the win didn’t come without its hiccups.
Monaghan, 60, lost his opening game in qualifying on Saturday to Masterton clubmate Matthew Day, meaning he needed to win his remaining two games to make post section play on Sunday.
He then comfortably beat Eketahuna’s Wayne Tibble and Greytown’s Brian Phillips to qualify for Sunday’s quarterfinals.
Monaghan then came up against in-form Martinborough bowler Mike Charteris and was pushed hard before triumphing 21-15.
Next up was representative teammate and singles specialist Scott Mackenzie in the semifinals, but Monaghan made no race of it, claiming a 21-8 win.
That set up a tantalising final against 2018 champion and current national pairs champion Rob Bennett from Titahi Bay.
Bennett had endured two tough knockout matches, drawing a beautiful shot on the final end to beat Day 21-20 in the quarterfinal, and overcoming a tenacious Hayden Frew from Featherston 21-16 in the semifinal.
Bennett took an early three-shot lead after two ends in the final, but from then Monaghan took control to race away for a 21-11 victory.
Monaghan said it was “satisfying” to win the singles title even though he’d won it at least five times before.
“Apart from the slow start in my first game I played well for the rest of the weekend and it was very satisfying” he said.
“I had to work hard to beat Mike [Charteris], it was fairly comfortable against Scotty [Mackenzie], and once I got the lead over Robbie, I controlled the final.”
Monaghan has no intention of slowing down his glittering bowls career and headed off almost immediately to play in the Taranaki Fours, which started on Monday.
Monaghan has a proud record in what is New Zealand’s biggest bowls tournament, having won it once and been a finalist three times in the 10 years he has played in it.
Monaghan is playing with Manawatu bowlers Brian Little, Eric Cairncross and Brian Looker in the tournament, based in New Plymouth.
