By TERRY MADDAFORD
AT the ripe age of 83, bowler Ivan Kostanich has joined the pros.
Today, the Helensville identity is to play in the semifinals, and maybe the final, of the NCV Welsh Masters Singles qualifying tournament in Hamilton.
A win there, and another a little later in the final, would book
Kostanich a trip to November's Masters in Llanelli, Wales.
Asked if he would take the trip, given the chance, Kostanich hesitated - for about a second.
"But that's a long way off. I'm not likely to beat the young fellows. Their combined ages add up to not much more than mine," said Kostanich, who turns 84 on New Year's Day and has become the oldest member of the worldwide Professional Bowls Association.
In becoming its 99th member, Kostanich has the chance to play in professional tournaments offering a combined $900,000 on the British-based World Bowls Tour.
Kostanich, who played at the Edmonton Commonwealth Games 26 years ago, is still regarded as one of New Zealand's best.
In his soon-to-be published book, Leading From The Front, top New Zealand bowler Rowan Brassey describes the "Old Fox" as having an instinctive idea of what to do.
"He just steps up to the mat and simply picks his line and length almost automatically. He just seems to have got better and better."
