Brentton Donaldson has qualified to defend his Lowry Cup Singles crown. Photo Tetsuro MitomoAshburton Bowling Club’s Brentton Donaldson has qualified to the knockout stage in his defence of one of Mid Canterbury bowls most prized trophies, the Lowry Cup.

The up and coming player will be joined by 10 other players in the knockout stage of the tournament after the qualifying rounds last Sunday at the Ashburton Bowling Club.

The entire tournament was supposed to have been held over the course of last weekend, but Saturday’s weather saw no play get under way with the qualifying stages pushed back to Sunday.

Donaldson did it the hard way to get the required three wins from his four matches.

He began well winning his first match convincingly before losing out in the second round which meant he had to win his final two games in order to make it through to the next stage of the competition.

Playing in Section 1, Donaldson was joined by four others in the post-section stage.

Methven’s Brent Mayson claimed four wins from his four matches to march through unbeaten while Alan Hill, Gavin Eder and Graeme Bishop also picked up the required three wins.

Over in section two of the competition, Richard Kane waltzed his way through with three wins before not having to play his last round match while both Mat Bassett and John Drayton did the same.

Reg McGarry did it the toughest way of anyone after he lost his first-round match to Drayton before claiming wins in his final three matches.

Roger Gutberlet and Jeff Nowell also managed to get the required three wins and will be there when the post-section action begins at a yet to be confirmed date in the New Year.

This weekend will see players back on the Ashburton green for the Cotula Cup holiday tournament which is held over both Saturday and Sunday.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 28 December 2018