PNB Masters rise to the occasion
BOWLS
Westville BC’s Roger Boulle (Vet) and Hillary’s Marc Rogers (Open) – newly crowned PNB Master’s champions. | Paul White
Image: (credit Paul White)
As every seasoned bowler knows, true mastery on the green is far more than simply delivering a bowl accurately. It’s a delicate dance of technical precision, strategic insight, adaptability and unwavering consistency. This past weekend, the PNB Masters showcased these qualities in full force.
At the close of play on Saturday, the log standings were a tease for what Sunday had in store. The margins were razor-thin and anticipation ran high.
In the Men’s Open, Section 1 leader Jarred Bauristhene had edged two points ahead of Wayne Roberts, with the draw having them facing each in the final sectional game. Section 2 mirrored the drama: Marc Rodgers led Ruaan Victor by one point, and the two were drawn against each other in a winner-takes-all clash.
Umhlali CC’s Jill Hackland (Vet) and Linda Tolmay (Open) – 2025 PNB Master’s champions. | Monique Lott
Image: (credit Monique Lott)
The Men’s Veterans offered their own nail-biters. Section 1 front-runner John Connellan and Louis Tolmay were separated by a single point, while in Section 2, Roger Boulle led Rodney Ward only on aggregate. Sunday morning was set to test composure and class.
In the Women’s Open, Section 1 saw a pivotal showdown between Glenda Matthews and Susan Nel—so close that a single shot on aggregate separated them. Section 2 was even tighter, with Michelle Gerber and Linda Tolmay level on points and only aggregate giving Gerber a slight edge. But Nel and Tolmay turned the tables in their final games and booked their spots in the title clash.
Umhlali CC’s ecstatic Linda Tolmay holds her first PNB Open Master’s trophy aloft. | Monique Lott
Image: (credit Monique Lott)
The women’s veterans continued the trend. Gail Jennings led Judy Green by a point in Section 1. In Section 2, it was equal points for Minette Hatton-Jones and Lorna Drake, with Hatton-Jones just edging it on aggregate. The drama was undeniable.
And then came Sunday.
In the Men’s Open, Bauristhene and Rodgers both rose to the occasion, defeating Roberts and Victor respectively, to earn their final berths. In the final, Rodgers wasted no time asserting control and stormed to 21 shots in just 14 ends—claiming his first PNB Masters title. In the Veterans, Boulle was equally emphatic, joining Rodgers in the winners' circle with his own clinical 21-shot finish over 14 ends.
Westville’s Roger Boulle celebrates his first PNB Master’s win. | Judy Bowland
Image: (credit Judy Bowland)
The Women’s Open results gave Umhlali Country Club reason to cheer as both their stars, Linda Tolmay and Jill Hackland, were crowned PNB Champions. Tolmay faced the formidable Susan Nel and at 20–9 up by the eighteenth end, it looked wrapped up. But Nel dug deep, holding Tolmay scoreless for five ends. It was only on the twenty-fourth end that Tolmay drew the winning shot to seal a 21–18 victory.
Hackland, meanwhile, had pulled off two wins on Sunday morning to leap from third to top spot in Section 1 and faced Lorna Drake in the final. A master class of control under pressure followed, with Hackland dominating to take the title 21–12.
Bronze medals went to Warren v.d Sloot, Rodney Ward, Glenda Matthews and Gail Jennings.
The 2025 PNB Masters delivered everything its name promises—grit, grace and greatness. From shot-for-shot battles to nail-biting comebacks, it was a celebration of district-level bowls at its finest. With new champions crowned and old rivalries reignited, the legacy of the Masters rolls on.