But Tony Grantham couldn't continue his winning streak at Henderson yesterday. Photo / Kenny Rodger
Not even a second round loss in the New Zealand Open singles at Henderson yesterday could lessen some of the dream-like few days Birkenhead's Tony Grantham has just enjoyed.
The 34-year old, little known outside the North Harbour centre until an upset win in the New Zealand singles
championship in Dunedin last season, last week went a step further by winning the world champion of champions singles title at the Warilla club in New South Wales.
In the final Grantham overwhelmed William James (Swaziland) after ousting the favoured Englishman Mark Walton, a previous titleholder in the semifinals.
Yesterday Grantham bowled in the inaugural Fuji Xerox New Zealand Open to a young South Islander, Andrew Kelly.
But while Grantham was not looking for excuses for his early departure, there is not much doubt he was still coping with an inevitable downer after scaling the heights in Australia.
As was the case with New Zealand international bowlers who have been largely based in Canterbury in recent months, Grantham found difficulty adjusting to the slick Henderson greens which were running at about 19-20secs.
"Over there [in Australia] they were about 14, 15 or 16 seconds," he said.
He was also feeling a little tired, after arriving back in Auckland on Saturday night, having followed a punishing schedule to win his world title.
Over two weeks he played 11 games in qualifying, followed by three games in the play-offs.
He has already represented New Zealand at development level and in the Australian open triples earlier this year where, with Richard Girvan and Ali Forsyth, he finished second.
A bowler since the age of 17, Grantham now has his sights on making the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Whether that is in singles, pairs or fours, Grantham is not worried.
" I've got no favourites, just as long as I'm in a team," he says.
"I've been playing a lot at skip lately and that's been good for me as it's given me the chance to play more shots."
