Brent Stubbins (left) and Rob Ashton are associate members of Khandallah Bowling Club who try to revitalize bowling nationally with a group called Bowls Galore. Photo / Sotheany Ream
Ashton poised to become first two-title winner at bowls’ NZ open.
Rob Ashton, soon to join Auckland's Carlton-Cornwall club after dominating Wellington bowls for years, moved to the brink of an unprecedented double at the New Zealand Open at Henderson yesterday.
For the second consecutive year Ashton and his St Heliers lead Barclay Lee won the pairs title, with a decisive
23-3 win over Canterbury's Alvin Gardiner and his Central Otago lead, Pat Houlahan.
The result was decided after only 12 of the scheduled 15 ends.
Since the open started in 2007, no male bowler has won twice at the same tournament, but today Ashton, who has appeared in five open finals, has the chance to do that when he meets the equally experienced Gardiner again in the singles final.