First men’s singles country week title to experienced Wagin bowler Warren Holt

Wagin’s Warren Holt claimed his first men’s country week singles title after an inspired display in the final contested in Perth last month.

Holt enjoyed a strong run in the singles competition on March 3 at Sorrento Bowling Club and had to overcome the impressive Richard Schinzig from Moodiarrup to reach the decider.

After an even start in the semi-final Holt slowly edged clear and then finished with a run of four ends on his way to a dominant 21-7 result.

Holt would face Ongerup’s Maurice O’Neill in the final after the latter had to come from behind in his semi-final against Gingin’s Shaun Donohoe.

Donohoe set the pace early but O’Neill produced a strong middle section and then calmly closed out the game to win 21-16.

The experienced Holt started well in the final, leading 4-0 before O’Neill reduced the margin to a single shot.

The pair traded ends but Holt’s ability to win multiple shots was telling as he remained in control on the scoreboard.

O’Neill was fighting desperately to stay in touch and trailed 13-17 at one point but Holt proved too strong as he coasted to a 21-13 triumph, snaring his first singles title at country week in the process.

In the quarter-finals O’Neill defeated Mandurah’s Glenn Dunn (21-14) while Donohoe knocked out York’s Phil Jones (21-19).

On the other side of the draw Holt got the better of Emu Point’s Matt Mitchell (21-7) and Schinzig won his quarter-final against Merredin’s Matthew France (21-11).

The men’s country week pairs title went to Pinjarra’s Brad Ball and Dominic Milbourne after they beat Shackleton’s Trevor Cosgrove and Phillip Bradley, 11-8, on Saturday March 4.

The Pinjarra duo beat the composite team of Tom Cabassi and Jeremy Thomas 19-10 in the semi-finals. Albany’s Johnathon Davidson and Craig Hitchcock fell short of reaching the decider after losing 11-14 to Cosgrove and Bradley.

The country week fours competition was held on March 5 and 6, with the Denison combination of Joel Leeson, Peter Leeson, Ian Payne and Paul Hitchcock proving successful.

They had a 21-12 victory over the Narembeen team of Michael Currie, John Currie, Robert Hayter and Brendon Parsons.

Emu Point’s Alan Spence, Andy McFarlane, John Stone and Kelvin Crosby were knocked out by Narembeen in a thrilling semi-final, 14-15.

The Denison foursome won their semifinal 23-15 against Corrigin’s Mark Szczecinski, Stephen Sloan, Clifton Crombie and Dave Dutton.