At the open competition at Hillcrest Bowling Club last Saturday, participants and spectators welcomed a large number of fans from all district clubs who gathered to support the singles champions competing for the prestigious PNBA Champions title.
A day of intense elimination matches determined eight participants for the semi-final round on Sunday.
In the men's tournament, Andy Kaister from Firwood faced Wayne Roberts from Hillcrest, while Ryan Victor from Hillary competed against Elijah Mommen from Berea. Roberts and Victor advanced from these matches to a thrilling final.
In the women's semi-finals, Hilary Lindsay from Ammanzimtoti defeated Debbie de Cock from Mount Edgecombe, while Shannon Burger from Hillary won against Candice Ives from Parkhill, setting the stage for another tense showdown.
Without Bias
The men's final was a battle of will and nerves. Victor led until the seventh end, but Roberts, trailing 5-2, managed to score four pins and take the lead. Roberts maintained this advantage for most of the next six ends, but Victor gradually began to regain ground. By the eighteenth end, he was ahead with a score of 13-12.
Subsequently, the lead changed almost every end, as both players maintained remarkable composure under increasing pressure. By the twenty-seventh end, Roberts led 20-19, but Victor managed to secure two magnificent shots close to the jack that Roberts could not move, winning the 2026 PNBA Men's Champion title.
The women's final was no less dramatic. Burger quickly took the lead 5-1 after four ends, but Lindsay gradually demonstrated the consistency she is known for, taking the lead by the eleventh end. Over the next ten ends, the score was tied four times, as neither athlete conceded.
By the twenty-seventh end, Lindsay led 19–18 and seemed to have secured the victory with three pins remaining. However, Burger, inciting the crowd, placed her final pin near the jack, leveling the score again. Displaying remarkable self-control for a player with only three years of experience, Burger then executed two perfectly controlled shots to secure her victory and win her first gold medal.
After the game, Victor expressed respect for Roberts, a colleague with whom he played and competed throughout his 21-year career. An emotional Burger thanked her club's incredible support and her bowling teammates.
Questions were raised regarding why Hilary Lindsay trained under Susan Nell, and Shannon Burger under Roger Bull during the game. Scouts Ray Le Roux and Steve Van Nickers confirmed that this is permitted by the World Sport Bowling Rules. A coach must declare their intention to train a player or team before the start of the game, and the referee must be notified. Advice can only be given upon the player's request and must be provided outside the boundaries of the green area while the player has possession of the ring. Coaches cannot call players for advice, and a marker cannot act as a coach.
PNBA wishes Neil Tovey and Debbie de Cock good luck in bowling, as they represent the district at the BSA Mixed Pairs Championship in Nelspruit this weekend.