Bowls ‘first’ for Linwood professional

Press, 5 December 1986, Page 40

Bowls ‘first’ for Linwood professional

Margaret Lloyd, a bowler for only seven years, became the first woman to win a professional tournament in Christchurch when she beat her Linwood clubmate, Lex Kimber, in the final of the local Countrywide singles tournament at St Martins yesterday. The game was the best of three sets and Mrs Lloyd won 7-5, 6-7, 7-6. For her efforts, Mrs Lloyd, who won all her nine games, received $250, and an invitation to the richer Classic singles in Christchurch in March.

The final was an exceptionally fine game of bowls. Both players drew some wonderful shots, but Mrs Lloyd was a shade more consistent, and for this reason deserved to win.

Mrs Kimber twice had the shots to win the first set, but Mrs Lloyd, who was 2-5 down at one stage, cut them out both times and she won, 7-6, with a single on probably the tighest head of the game.

Mrs Lloyd was close to

victory when she led 6-3 in the second set, but Mrs Kimber responded to the challenge and fought back to win it, 7-6. Mrs Kimber, through her greater experience, looked to have turned the tide when she went to a 52 lead in the third set. However, she then had a bad end and dropped a four. Her first bowl went into the ditch, the next two were well short and the third she undergrassed.

On the final end Mrs Kimber drew a close shot with her second bowl, but Mrs Lloyd got inside it and the game was hers when Mrs Kimber missed with two drives.

Mrs Lloyd, who transferred from Morrison Avenue to Linwood two seasons ago, met another of her clubmates, Marie Watson, in the semi-finals. Here, too, she had a tough battle, winning 7-6, 7-6, after Mrs Watson had led 6-1 in the second set. Mrs Kimber had a much quicker semi-final, overcoming Doris Smith (Spreydon), 7-0, 7-3.