James MacGowan of Burnaby and a team of two Canadians and an Australian won a silver medal at the 84-team Tiger Bowls International in Hong Kong on March 18.
The Canadian bowls team squeaked into the top38 qualifying teams on the opening day but won all five matches in the championship round, including an 8-0 shutout over the Hong Kong national team to advance to the semifinals.
"We had an incredible day. The luck was on our side and we just destroyed teams, including the Hong Kong national team. We actually skunked them, taking eight skins," said MacGowan
In the semifinals, the Canadian team, including skip Jurgen Fessler, MacGowan, throwing third as vice-skip, Kody Olthof and Aussie Lee Cook edged the United States with the last bowl in the final end.
Trailing 7-6 in the seventh end and lying shot bowl, Fessler made the shot of the day with his last bowl, nudging the jack on a difficult final throw near the boundary line.
"It was a brilliant finish, a brilliant way to finish," MacGowan added.
The Canadians lost in the final to the Philippines.
"It was incredible, such a nice feeling, especially to know that no other Canadian team had finished so high," said MacGowan.
Following the Hong Kong competition, MacGowan and company went to Mainland China for the China Open.
There, the greens were particularly slow, making the shotmaking more difficult.
"For us as individuals, it shows to selectors we can play international bowls," said MacGowan.
"And any time you can bring an international medal home, it's quite an experience."
