When Brad Lange was just 11 years of age, he was attending EA Southee Public School, busy learning his 11 times tables (1x11=11, 2x11=22, 3x11=33).
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Those numbers, 11, 22 and 33, played an important role in the final of the Country Club’s major singles bowls championships on Tuesday afternoon.
Reigning Singles Champion Ron Johnson, aged 80 years, had to give away 58 years in age to the “young kid on the block” in Lange, already a very accomplished bowler at just 22 years of age.
In windy conditions, the game started well for Lange, with the maximum four shots on the first end.
After being down 0-6, Johnson began to slowly gather form with Lange leading 11-9 early into the match.
It was at 11 shots that Lange was held, as he saw Johnson leapfrog to the lead at 14-11. Lange was then able to get back to 14-all before reaching to lead 22-16 shots.
It was then Johnson’s turn to reply to get within one shot of Lange’s score line 21-22. Johnson eventually reached 22 shots, but it was there that he stayed with Lange clawing his way with a series of single-shot ends and a three-shot flurry at the end, to take the 2018 singles title 33-22.
Lange is the youngest player in the history of bowls at the Country Club to be crowned men’s singles bowls champion.
An accomplished golfer, Lange took up bowls just a few years ago and has continued to blossom in the game. He is a great ambassador for the game showing great maturity, composure and consistency.
Johnson’s bowls story is also impressive. He first won the singles championships in 1992. Medical problems saw him sidelined for a couple of seasons until he was encouraged back onto the green with the aid of a mechanical bowling arm. He soon mastered the bowling arm to such a high skill level that he was able to win the singles championships in 2017, 25 years after winning his first.
Lange is the youngest player ... to be crowned men’s singles bowls champion.
Lange reached the final after early round victories over Keith Townley, David Bateup and a semi-final tussle over Don Manwaring.
Johnson had early round victories over Ron Rosengreen, John Malone, Kevin Breasley and a semi-final encounter over Bill Manwaring.
The club congratulated Lange and Johnson on presenting such a high-standard final.