Alexandra businessman Pat Houlahan had some Houdini-like escapes on his way to winning his first national bowls title.
Houlahan won the Pathways men's singles title in the round-robin tournament at Invercargill from Allan Stewart (Central Cambridge) and Gary Watson (Stoke, Nelson).
In the decisive final round game he beat Stewart 25-24 in a cliffhanger.
Houlahan (54) fought his way back from a 3-16 deficit to win the game.
He was a master of the comebacks and bounced back from being well behind in almost all of his singles games to win the national club title.
He looked to be out of his safety zone when he lost his first match 25-8 to Bart Robertson (Helensville).
"In most of my games I had to come back from behind, and I got used to it," he said.
"When I was 3-16 behind in the last game I didn't really panic.
"I've always been a fighter and never wanted to give in to anything."
It is Houlahan's 28th season on the bowling green and the national title was the biggest thing he has ever won since he was conned into picking up a bowl and rolling up in Alexandra.
"I've won some Central Otago titles before, but nothing as big as this," he said.
It has been a successful Pathways tournament for the Alexandra club. Bill Clements and Trevor Ludlow won the silver medal behind Gary Watson and Brendan Hodgson (Stoke) in the men's pairs.
Wynette McLachlan (Clinton), the defending champion, was runner-up in the women's singles, behind Linda Ralph (Pakuranga, Auckland).
The Pathways national tournament continues in Invercargill this week.
