8 May 2015

NZ bowls great passes away

5:17 pm on 8 May 2015

One of New Zealand's top lawn bowlers, Phil Skoglund has died. He was 77.

Skoglund, from Palmerston North, was the winner of eight national titles, including five singles titles.

He won his first national singles title when was 21 in 1958 and is the only bowler to have won three singles title in a row and was renowned for his unique, silky delivery and his shrewdness on the green.

He won a World Bowls gold medal in the triple in 1998. He also won silver, twice, and a bronze medal in the fours, and bronze in the pairs.

NZ bowls great Phil Skoglund

NZ bowls great Phil Skoglund Photo: Supplied / Bowls NZ

Skoglund also enjoyed Commonwealth Game success winning silver and bronze medals in the fours and bronze in pairs.

He was awarded an OBE for services to bowls in 1988 and was inducted into the NZ Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

In all he won 30 clubs titles and 20 centre titles.

Phil Skoglund:

National Open and International titles:

National Singles 1958, 1996, 1970, 1971, 1972

National Pairs 1972, 1976

National Fours 1976

World Bowls 1998: Gold medal in Triples