Bowlsman James MacGowan is living his dream.
The 29-year-old lab production shift supervisor for ClearlyContacts.ca is hoping to continue his climb up the professional world bowls rankings with a strong showing on the China Tour next month.
MacGowan, along with two friends from Ontario and a ringer from Australia, will ,be competit-ing in the invitation-only team event at the 15th Tiger Bowls Open in Hong Kong and the 4th China Open in Shenzhen, China from March 17 to 22.
"I really think we do (have a chance), I really do," said MacGowan. "In 2007, we finished in seventh place at the Tiger Bowls, which was previously Canada's highest-ever placing."
MacGowan, who plays the indoor game at the Pacific Bowls Club in the Millenium Sports Facility in Vancouver, has good reason to feel optimistic.
Last year, he became the first Canadian to advance to the quarter-finals of a pro tour event, while competing at the Scottish International Open on the World Bowls Tour.
"It was extremely overwhelming," said MacGowan of the atmosphere at the indoor facility. "There are people pulling for you and interviews and fans wanting you to sign autographs. . If you watch a big televised event with commentators and a big audience, with onsite betting, paying spectators, musical introductions and instant replays, it can be intense. It's a dream come true."
MacGowan first played on the World tour in 2008 in pairs, getting to the second round.
Playing in his first singles match on tour, MacGowan knocked off seventh-seeded Jason Greenslade of Wales in a third-set tiebreaker.
He then defeated former world indoor champion Billy Jackson of England, also in a tiebreak.
"It's a level I wanted to get to for so long," said MacGowan. "Just being there is surreal, and winning was even more surreal."
MacGowan grew up in Waterford, a small rural town of less than 3,000 residents in southern Ontario known for its annual pumpkin festival.
He first picked up a bowl on a dare from his older sister.
Three years later, the former all-province under14 basketball player won his first of 10 Ontario singles titles.
The following year, MacGowan won the gold medal in singles lawn bowling at the Ontario Summer Games.
"I was completely hooked after that," MacGowan said.
In 2009, MacGowan followed the love of his life to the West Coast.
Now, with the backing of his employer, MacGowan is ready to realize more of his goals.
MacGowan hopes to make Canada's national team to the Commonwealth Games in 2014. He will also take part in mixed pairs at the first-ever Dutch Open in Haarlem in May.
"The company's motto is work hard, play hard - and to have that opportunity to go out and represent my company is something I love," MacGowan said.
MacGowan believes one day Canada will produce world-class bowlers because of the stateoftheart Pacific facility.
"It takes good balance, concentration and focus, and a lot of strategy," he said.
MacGowan gives as an example how seasoned competitors would try and psych each other out on the world tour.
"It began in the trial ends for me," MacGowan added. "Once you have the skill set and basic mechanics, it's a mind game after that. It's intriguing."
