Christine Buchanan has made up for lost time since retiring to Queenstown five years ago.
That was when she started playing bowls at the local club with husband Neil. She has won seven Central Otago titles.
Buchanan stepped up a notch yesterday when she won the zone 6 singles and advanced to the national finals in Invercargill in May.
Buchanan (60) was the only unbeaten player in the women's singles at the Taieri green. She beat Mata Frankum (Kia Toa, South Canterbury) 25-14, Mary Collett (Balclutha) 25-16, Malia Tavite (Forbury Park) 25-18 and Kerry Kelly (Phoenix, North Otago) 25-24.
''It was level pegging with Kerry but I managed to draw the shot on the last end to win the game,'' Buchanan said. ''I've never won anything like this before. It's a big thrill.''
Buchanan won the round-robin competition with eight points and was followed by Tavite, Kelly and Frankum who were second-equal on four points. Buchanan did not have time for bowls when she managed the New World supermarket at Ashburton with her husband.
''I had worked hard for a long time but now I had every day to spare and went down to the bowling club for a fun day and enjoyed it,'' she said.
Buchanan grew up in Invercargill and was taken to the local bowling club by her parents when she was young. Her mother, Jessie O'Grady, was a Southland representative. Former New Zealand representative Terry Scott (North East Valley) won the men's singles after winning a tense last game against Robert Wilson (Clutha Valley) 25-23.
The pair were unbeaten before the final game which would decide who would qualify for the national final.
''It was a tough game with a lot of nip and tuck,'' Scott said. Scott went out to an early 8-1 lead but Wilson fought back and held the lead 23-20 and had two shots on the head before Scott played his last bowl.
It was a difficult shot to get to the head and it forced Scott to draw on his vast experience when he ran the jack into the ditch to take two shots.
He also showed his magic on the last end when he drew three shots to win the game.
''I was pleased with the shot I played to run the jack into the ditch and then played four very good draw bowls on the next end,'' he said. Scott won the competition with 10 points and was followed by Wilson 8 and Allan Brash (Arrowtown) 4.
The Pathways competition continues today and tomorrow with the pairs at the Balmacewen green. The triples will be played at Taieri on Sunday and Monday.
