EUROBODALLA’S lawn bowls fraternity will be represented by emerging Malua Bay bowler Murray O’Bryan at the Bowls NSW rookie singles state finals.
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O’Bryan swept his opponents at the Central South Coast district competition at Narooma in August and qualified for the zone seven play-offs.
At the play-offs at Narooma on Saturday, he was undefeated in a round robin against three bowlers and became the rookie singles champion.
Overall he won seven of his seven matches and he was the only player from 54 bowlers to do so.
However, he said he didn’t expect to fare as well at state level in Maitland from October 17 to 18.
“It’s just the experience, there will be a lot of good bowlers” O’Bryan said.
The rookie moniker applies to bowlers, who have been bowling members of any club for less than 30 months.
O’Bryan moved from Tasmania to Malua Bay just over two years ago.
He was a life member golfer and basketball player, and played “all sports” in his younger days.
He started bowling with Malua Bay Bowling Club’s Sunday Sippers in July of 2013 and praised the group for showing him the ropes.
He also received coaching lessons from Kevin Rourke in his early days and he praised Rourke for his guidance.
“He was the man,” O’Bryan said.
O’Bryan plays at least three times a week, sometimes more, and sometimes at various clubs around the Eurobodalla.
He also commended his fellow players who had helped him improve his craft, beginning with the Sunday Sippers group.
“There are probably eight to 10 chaps (at Malua Bay) who have given me tips, they’ve all helped,” he said.
There are probably eight to 10 chaps who have given me tips; they’ve all helped.
- Murray O'Bryan
O’Bryan wanted to continue playing golf when he moved to Malua Bay but said it was too expensive for him after retiring.
Instead, he opted for lawn bowls and his first set of bowls was passed on from his sister after his brother-in-law Lloyd passed away.
O’Bryan said his sister was “thrilled to bits” that he qualified for state because “they were bowling people”.
“The grandchildren, they stir me up a bit too,” he said.
He said the sport was “friendly for anyone” because of its lower costs and because of the people involved on the South Coast.
He also praised the Malua Bay Bowling Club for supporting his trip to the state finals in a fortnight.
