31-year-old builder Jamie Walker became the first qualifier to win a spot in the 2nd round of the @Imagine Cruising World Indoor Bowls Singles championship when he beat world ranked number 6 Greg Harlow in a high quality exchange 7-6, 5-5.
Walker, who plays at the Torquay United club, trailed 6-2 after six ends on the first set, but a treble followed by a single squared the scoreline at 6-6 on the penultimate end.
With shot against him, Greg ran the jack to the very corner of the back ditch with his last bowl and could only watch in horror as his ‘touching’ bowl ran out of play to leave Jamie holding a single to take sneak the set 7-6.
The second set once again was an exhibition of draw bowls, and over the nine end set - eight singles were scored with the only multiple coming on the first end when Greg scored a double.
In a set that Greg needed to win to take the match to a tie-break, he got off to the better start, scoring a single and double to lead 3-0, but such was the ensuing tussle that they tied the scoreline once again at 4-4 with two ends to play.
Greg once again nosed ahead with a single and knew that he needed to score at least a double to take the set.
He rolled in shot number 1 with his first bowl and kept his second bowl in the area, but Jamie changed his hand and drew an inch perfect forehand draw shot and despite Greg’s best efforts, the shot against him stayed in place till the end with Jamie sharing the set at 5-5 and winning the game by one and a half sets to a half.
Jamie 2nd Round match will be on Thursday 19th January against the winner of tonight’s (12th January) game between Alex Marshall MBE and Mark Royal
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