Last weekend, participants of the Port Natal Bowls Qualification Masters faced conditions where not only winning individual games was at stake. Constant rain on Sunday added another layer of difficulty, and athletes understood that every throw could bring them closer to a spot among the district elite.
The Qualification Masters serve as a pathway to the PNB Open and Veteran Masters, giving players the potential to represent the district and prove their abilities on the green. The competition is intentionally tough: while reputation and past achievements may attract attention, current form is what matters most.
The competitions demand that participants demonstrate stability, tactical understanding, and psychological resilience to perform under pressure. The sectional round-robin format intensifies this challenge, as one cannot rely solely on outstanding play in a single match. Players must show consistent quality against strong opponents from round to round, as every end and every throw can affect the final result.
For those who succeeded, the reward was a coveted spot in the Masters. Eight men qualified for the PNB Men’s Open Masters, which will take place from October 2nd to 4th: Brett Burger (Stella Park), Wade Marshall (Hillary), Jason Butterfield and Greg Scott (both Parkhill), Troy Garland (Wentworth), Russell Funnell and Dion Audie (both Westville BC), as well as Graham Schouten (Parkhill).
The qualifiers for the Men’s Veteran Masters include Lindsay North (Westville CC), Les Lothian (Umhlali), John Peacock (Hillcrest), Laine King (Durban), Matt Mayo and Lance Mansfield (both Westville BC), Jeff Harris (Northlands), and Brad Lezar (Parkhill).
In the Women's Open Masters, Shannon Burger (Hillary) and Jo-Anne Laden (Queens) qualified, along with Linda Ellis and Lisa Nicholas from Umhlanga. The Women's Veteran Masters will now include Belinda Steffens (Hillary), Ina Beavon (Umhlanga), Tokkie de Kock (Amanzimtoti), and Estelle van der Merwe (Winkelspruit).
The Women's Open and Veteran Masters will be held at Hillary Bowling Club on October 3rd and 4th. Matt Mayo also managed to qualify for the PNB Open Masters last weekend.
After the qualification participants were determined, PNB players are turning their attention this Sunday to another challenging test—the final district competition of 2026: Men’s and Women’s Fours. The sectional competition will take place in six locations across the district.
Playing fours is often called the ultimate test of lawn bowls, and not without reason. Each player has only two bowls, leaving little room for errors or hiding. However, fours requires more than individual skill; compatibility can be just as important as skill.
Four team members must act as a unit, jointly reading the line, trusting the captain's judgment, and precisely understanding what is required of them and what their role is in each end. It is a game of precision, patience, communication, and partnership, where one perfectly delivered bowl can change the course of the game. Four players, eight bowls, one shared vision—that is the magic and challenge of the fours game.