Local Bowler’s top Performance

Cohuna Golf bowler Jarred Hammond was on centre stage during last week, when he competed in the Victorian State Singles Championships at Warrnambool.

Playing on their synthetic surfaces, of which he had little experience, Jarred quickly acclimatised, winning his first round match against fellow country bowler, Ray Emerson from Barooga. Once confident on the surface, Jarred’s drawing game came to the fore, and he won well 25-13.

That evening he faced a tougher challenge against a very handy metropolitan bowler in Todd Shannon from Caulfield Park. In a game which had the large support group on their toes throughout, fortunes ebbed and waned on the outcome of one wonderful draw shot after another. Jarred overcame an early deficit to match his opponent at 24 all, then sealed the result with a stunning bowl that drew applause from all quarters.

The following morning at 9am Jarred met Lee Schraner (Bendigo East via Tasmania) in the semi-final round. Lee has an enviable CV, having won state and national titles and was in the last 16 of the state in three of the Warrnambool events. Their match was well contested, but the polished skills of Schraner won out decisively in the end, winning the match 25-11, and then going on to clinch another singles title in his next game, after previously winning the State Pairs.

Jarred did his club, association and region proud with his display of skilled bowling, unflappable demeanour and all-round sportsmanship. He caught the eye of state officials, and hopefully the Warrnambool experience will be but a rung on an advanced bowls ladder.