New Zealand's Shannon McIlroy has won the men's singles title at the World Bowls Championships, beating Canada's Ryan Bester 21-17 to claim the gold medal in Christchurch this afternoon.
New Zealand's Shannon McIlroy has won men's singles gold at the 2016 World Bowls Championships. Photo: Photosport
McIlroy was the first to put points on the board at the Burnside Bowling Club, but Bester kept right with him until the final few ends, forcing the New Zealander to hold his nerve under pressure.
It's the first time McIlroy has been crowned a World Champion, having won men's singles bronze at the 2012 championships and bronze in the 2016 pairs event.
Earlier today, the women's pair of Jo Edwards and Angela Boyd had to settle for silver, losing their gold medal match 16-15 to Wales, despite a late comeback.
The Blackjacks have finished the World Championships with two gold, one silver and four bronze medals from the eight events, with only the women's triples team unable to reach the semi-final stage.
National coach Dave Edwards said the Championships have been a massive success for the Blackjacks.
"We're over the moon with our results. Two gold medals a silver and four bronze has eclipsed even our own predictions of the number of medals we would get, so we're absolutely delighted."
- RNZ
