He did it again yesterday when he beat Mike Nagy (Taren Point) 25-21 to win his second North East Valley invitation singles. He won his first in 1999.
Kernaghan (59), the 2002 Commonwealth Games singles bronze medallist, has the ability to come from behind to win crucial games.
He did it in the quarterfinals when he beat Justin Goodwin (Auckland) 25-21 and repeated it in the final.
''I was pleased to win the event again because there are only five other bowlers who have won it more than once,'' Kernaghan said.
''It is cool to get my name and caricature up on the honours board twice because all of New Zealand's best players are here.''
Fifteen players have won the event in the past 24 years and all of them have represented either New Zealand or Australia.
Kernaghan won the $5000 winner's purse in the $16,000 prize pool.
''I just love competing in a quality field where you can test yourself,'' Kernaghan said.
The game looked over for Kernaghan when he trailed Nagy 17-10 after 17 ends.
''I thought I'd already lost it at that stage so I was probably more relaxed,'' Kernaghan said.
''I thought `God, what do I have to do to win?'
''I thought I'd played OK but I was seven points behind so I just kept doing what I had been doing.''
The score was even at 8-8 after nine ends but Nagy then consolidated his hold on the game by scoring nine shots on the next eight ends to lead 17-10.
A feature of Nagy's game was the ability to make his last bowl count.
He did this four times during the game when he was down on the head and it kept him in front. Nagy also made two bonus shots with his last bowl.
Another skill shown by Nagy was his ability to gain shots by ricocheting off other bowls. He also gained eight touchers.
Nagy was able to make telling blows with his feature shots but lacked the consistency of Kernaghan who played at his best on the last 10 ends and was relentless in drawing shots close to the jack.
Nagy's accuracy faltered over the final 10 ends and he only hit the target with three of his 12 drives.
In the last 12 ends, Kernaghan concentrated on getting his first or second bowls close to the jack.
''It forced him to play shots,'' Kernaghan said.
''The rink was fine for the draw but it was quite difficult when you had to play shots for points.''
Kernaghan crept closer by scoring 11 shots on the next nine ends to draw level at 21-21 after 26 ends. He scored shots on each of the last six ends to win the game.
The main feature of Kernaghan's game was his consistency on the draw. He also hit three of his five drives.
It was an impressive performance by Nagy, who was playing in the Speight's-sponsored event for the first time.
He won the pairs and fours titles at the national championships in Dunedin in January and this performance in Dunedin must put him firmly in the New Zealand selectors' sights when they name the 10-strong men's squad in three months.
Nagy was not complacent when he had the 17-10 lead.
''I knew Mike had it in him to come back,'' Nagy said.
''Against a quality opponent like that you are never clear until the games over.
''He was a bit scratchy at the start but I knew he would come back and turn the heat on.
''I just tried to get as close as I could and not drop big numbers.
''I gave it a crack and am more than happy with what I've done here. It's been a great experience for me and I hope it opens opportunities up in the future.''
In the semifinals, Kernaghan beat three-time winner and Black Jack Shannon McIlroy (Nelson) 25-17 and Nagy beat Jamie Hill (Auckland) 25-8.
Black Jack Ali Forsyth (Taren Point, Australia), the winner of the main event last year, beat Australian based Mark Watt 21-11 in the plate final.
Speight's Invitation Singles
Multiple winners
Rowan Brassey (Auckland) 1995, 1997, 2007; Shannon McIlroy (Nelson) 2006, 2008, 2012; Andrew Curtain (Canterbury) 1991, 2003; Russell Meyer (Bay of Plenty) 2004, 2005; Jim Scott (NEV) 2000, 2001; Mike Kernaghan (Dunedin) 1999, 2014.
