Ballan bowler wins singles championship

BALLAN’S Anne Draffen has taken out the Region’s Women’s Singles Championship in a closely contested match, overcoming Webbcona’s Debbie Gorin by a single shot to reach 25 and take out the title after 34 ends.

Draffen started strongly, taking a seven-shot lead after four ends before Gorin adjusted to the blustery conditions on the Sebastopol Bowling Club green and thereafter consistently winning ends to regain a four-shot lead (13 shots to nine) after the 14th end.

Draffen then found consistent length in combatting the windy conditions after the 16th end, but on the 31st end Gorin got four shots to regain the lead 23 shots to 21, resulting in a close finish.

Gorin was 24 shots to 23 on the last end, but Draffen was able to draw the closest two shots, which enabled her to get to 25 and take out the title.

In the men’s final, Kyneton’s Gregory Podesta took out the BHBR Region Men’s Singles Championship title played at Sebastopol Bowling Club.

Podesta prevailed in a closely-fought contest against Victoria Bowling Club’s Craig Ford.

Both Draffen and Podesta will go on to represent the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region in the state championship region finals event.

That competition will be played at Bendigo East Bowling Club from Thursday 3 to Friday 11 April.