Among those to make early exits were past champions Shaun Scott (Cromwell) and Mike Kernaghan (North East Valley), Black Jack Shayne Sincock (Canterbury) and Bowls Dunedin player of the year and semifinalist last year Keanu Darby.
While not progressing from section play, Darby can boast he claimed the scalp of defending champion Shannon McIlroy (Stoke, Nelson) in a tightly contested fifth-round match 25-23.
McIlroy’s only loss provided a huge wake-up call as he then topped his pool to automatically qualify for quarterfinal play and avoid yesterday’s post-section knockout stage.
One player to gain a second chance by progressing through to the post-section playoffs on differential was last year’s runner-up, Seamus Curtin (Stokes Valley, Wellington), who was drawn against Tom Taiaroa (Kaikorai).
However, Curtin’s reprieve was shortlived, as Taiaroa displayed little respect for his opponent’s reputation as he jumped out to a handy early lead and then withstood a fightback in the middle stages to progress to the quarterfinal stage with a 25-17 victory.
Heading the remaining pools to qualify automatically for today’s quarterfinals were Murray Scott (Nelson), New Zealand emerging player Sheldon Bagrie-Howley (Gore) and Black Jack Andrew Kelly (Canterbury).
Among the players to survive to bowl another day after the the post-section playoffs were 2018 New Zealand development player Finbar McGuigan (Stokes Valley, Wellington), who made it all one-way traffic in defeating Colin Wheeler (North East Valley) 25-12. McGuighan will play Bagrie-Howley in the quarterfinals this morning.
Caleb Hope (Gore) and Raika Gregory (Waikato) had a ding-dong battle, Hope making it through with a hard-fought 25-22 victory to earn the right to meet Scott.
In the remaining knockout match, Andrew McLean (Taieri) and Joko Susilo (North East Valley) met in a rain- interrupted encounter, taking advantage of a flying start to beat Susilo 25-17 victory.
However, McLean has a mammoth task awaiting him this morning as he must overcome defending champion and world singles champion McIlroy.
Play gets under way at the North East Valley Bowling Club at 8.30am.
The quarterfinals are followed by semifinals and then the final which is expected to get under way at 1.30pm.
