Steve Wilson (Kaikorai) started his bowls career with a bang by winning his first Bowls Dunedin title in only his third year in the sport.
It is rare for a junior bowler to win a centre title in his first five years in the sport.
Steve Wilson and his brother Peter both joined the Kaikorai club in 1995 and in 1998 were in the Kaikorai team that won the open fours.
Dunedin is a strong centre and Wilson found it was a lot harder to win another four titles.
His fifth title came in the champion of champions pairs this month when he and former international Mike Kernaghan beat Gerry Butler and Ken Walker (Taieri) 15-13.
It was Kernaghan's 23rd Bowls Dunedin title. Wilson's other titles were in the champion of champions triples, the open pairs and the champion of champion pairs.
''When I won my first title, I thought it might be my lot,'' Wilson said.
''It's a great feeling to win my gold star.''
Wilson was an average cricketer when he started playing bowls in 1995.
''Me and a mate wanted something to do at the weekend and the bowling club was just around the corner,'' he said.
An important breakthrough in Wilson's career came when he joined forces with Kernaghan, who won a bronze medal in the singles at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
''Mike's very encouraging and always gives me bits of advice and tells me to be patient,'' Wilson said.
''He improved my delivery when we played at the indoor stadium in the winter.''
Wilson was a member of the PBA for five years and reached the semifinals of an event in Dunedin that had direct entry to a major international in the United Kingdom. He was beaten by international Jamie Hill (Auckland).
Other players to gain their gold star this season are Kelvin Budge (Kaikorai) and Margaret Hoad (Green Island) in the triples.
Lyn Rance (Green Island) won her 18th title in the triples.
