Gold for the king

Golden Nugget winners Jo Edwards and Kelvin Kerkow hold aloft their trophies.

THE initials KKK can cause revulsion for many folk, but in the world of lawn bowls, they earn nothing but admiration.

King Kelvin Kerkow again reigned supreme at Tweed Heads Bowls Club yesterday when about 3000 subjects packed around the green to see him win his fourth Golden Nugget Invitational Prestige Singles.

Kerkow picked up $6000 and a magnificent trophy for his efforts as did the affable Kiwi, Jo Edwards, who took out the ladies event to put the icing on the cake in her comeback year.

Edwards retired from the international scene a few years back but since reviving her career in big-time bowls, she has carried all before her.

Yesterday’s victory followed wins at the World Cup at Warilla and the major New Zealand tournament, the BZ National Singles.

Edwards, who previously won the title in 2009, had to pull out all stops to win against the fighting young Taswegian, Rebecca Quail.

Quail trailed 12-8 early in the game but kept fighting back to take a 16-14 lead before the experience of Edwards prevailed when the pressure went on late in the match.

Kerkow was always in command in his final against the current Australian Open champion Leif Selby, who hails from down Wollongong way.

Midway through the match, Kerkow led 16-12 and then 25-18 before Selby pegged back a few shots to trail 24-17 after which Kerkow delivered the knockout blow by getting a toucher to send the big crowd into sustained applause.

Selby had played superbly throughout the tournament and was unbeaten going into the final after disposing of Ben Twist 25-24 in the morning’s semi-final.

Kelkow, who just scraped into his semi-final on a countback from Mark Casey, comfortably accounted for Sean Baker 25-17 in the penultimate match.

Selby was disappointed with his performance in the game that mattered but had nothing but praise for his vanquisher.

“I left my best form in the earlier games but full credit to Kelvin – I just wasn’t good enough,” Selby said.

Kerkow has remarkable skills but it is his strength of mind which always seems to get him home in the tight games.

The bloke is like a field marshal when he bowls – placing his storm-troopers around the jack and then sending in the reserves to cover the retreat or counter-attack.

The South Tweed bowler, who previously won the Golden Nugget in 1994, 1997 and 2008, was thrilled to have come out on top in a field which comprised the cream of the nation’s bowlers.

“We all get the opportunity to match our skills with the very best, the organisation of the tournament is first rate and the support we get from the gallery is really gratifying – I love it here!”