Grant Logan, the No2 seed and record four times champion is out of the Scotmid sponsored West Lothian Masters making his exit in Friday nights Section Finals to stalwart campaigner Brian Saunders of Bathgate at Broxburn.
A ding-dong battle saw peels called at 13 and 14after which Logan carded a single, lost a double, then moved into an 18-16 lead with a 3 on end 22. Saunders – a finalist in 2000 – has given the Masters some big moments down the 16 years of its existence and the 52-year old served up a 2015 shock with a strong 1, 2, 1, (1), 1 finish to capture the title favourites scalp with a 21-19 win in 27-ends.
There was more disappointment at Broxburn for the Logan clan with Gordon – father of the No2 seed – seeing his impressive run ended by a 21-17 defeat in a 27-end battle by Walter McDougall, The No9 seed from Glenmavis. McDougall raced into a 10-1 lead but had sweat on his brow at 19-17 before hitting 21 with a 1, 1 finish.
The Kirkliston challenge enjoyed better fortune in the display of three times Master John Aitken with the No5 seed scoring an easier than expected 21-6 win over Glen King, the N012 seed from Bankton Mains.
Another sizzler of a game at Broxburn saw former national champion Frazer Muirhead of Uphall Station make a bold bid to reach the Last Eight but from peels at 16-16 it was Ryan Miller of Buchan Park that finished the stronger. The 24-year old – a former Champion of Champions and Meikle Trophy winner – staging a grandstand finish of 2, 3 to win 21-16 in 17-ends.
Cameron Greer was the major casualty in the play at Kirkliston with the No7 seed from Bathgate – a former WLM – looking strong when recovering from10-4 down to lead 18-13 was knocked out 21-18 by a spectacular 2, 3, 1, 2, finish from dark horse Walter Miller of Linlithgow.
David Lamb of Uphall station progressed at the 21-7 expense of Buchan Park star Steven Fleming, and was joined in the quarterfinals by Stevie Pettigrew of Bathgate who played a stormer to beat Jimmy Mallon of Broxburn, 21-11 in 20-ends.
Sandy McDougall of Glenmavis failed to join brother Walter in Sundays final day showdown having been strongly in the picture at 17-17 but bowing out to a 1, 1, 2 finish from the talented David Rodgers of Harrysmuir.
Oakbank is the centre of the Bowls in West Lothian Universe tomorrow with the quarterfinals at 11am, the semi finals at 1-30pm, and the finalat 4pm.
The quarterfinal line up reads, David Lamb v Walter McDougall; John Aitken v Steve Pettigrew; Ryan Miller v David Rodgers; Walter Miller v Brian Saunders.