Vastly talented 17-year-old junior indoor bowler Matthew Farquhar, from the Lake Taupo Club, has won the Bay of Plenty Indoor Bowls Centre's Henselite Singles.
He defeated Derek Owen (Owhata) 11-9 in the final after an extra end was needed to find the winner at the tournament played at Whakatane Indoor Bowls Stadium on Sunday.
Farquhar has had an incredible season, winning four Bay of Plenty titles in just a few weeks.
He won the Bay of Plenty Fours and his Gold Star for five titles on April 8, Bay of Plenty Mixed Fours the following week, then the Bay of Plenty Championship Pairs a week later.
The Henselite Singles win brought his tally to eight titles.
He has also won the Rotorua Championship Triples, the Rotorua Men's Singles, where Derek Owen was again runner-up, and was runner-up in the Rotorua Pairs.
He could be in line for higher honours with the North Island Academy team due to be named later in the month to play the South Island Academy at the National Championships in Ashburton in June.
Farquhar is the current New Zealand Junior Singles Champion.
He now goes on to compete in the national final of the Henselite Singles in Palmerston North on September 8.
It is possible, if he continues on his winning way, that he may compete in the New Zealand Mixed Fours National final in Auckland in September, although his team would have to win the zone final in July in Whakatane.
He will also be gunning for the Bay of Plenty Junior Singles title again so that he qualifies for the national final and the chance to defend his title in North Wellington in August.
On Sunday, In the final over 12 ends, Farquhar made the best start to lead 8-5 after eight ends.
Owen, who was looking for his 10th title, fought back and the score was 9-all after the regulation 12 ends.
On the deciding end Farquhar was holding three shots close to the jack and Owen had one of his bowls at the end of the mat.
With his final bowl he ran at the Farquhar bowls but was unable to force the jack to the back of the mat, Farquhar winning 11-9.
In the semifinals Farquhar defeated clubmate and mentor Robin Porter 9-7 while Owen defeated Ron Munn, of Ohope, 16-8.
Last year's champion Gary Hunt, of Ohope, was eliminated by Munn in the first round of post-section 9-6.
Thirty-four players contested the championship and 12 qualified for post-section.
Results
Quarter-finals
Derek Owen beat Wayne Hitchens 12-4; Ron Munn beat Gavin Rennie 9-4; Robin Porter beat Colin Hanson 11-1; Matthew Farquhar beat Ciaran Blackbourn 12-9.
Semifinals
Owen beat Munn 16-8, Farquhar beat Porter 9-7.
Final
Farquhar beat Owen 11-9.