THE exit of No.5 seed Grant Logan is the biggest shock to date in the White Knights-sponsored West Lothian Bowls Association's West Lothian Masters after the Kirkliston man fell in last night's second round.
Logan – the 2005 Master and 1993 Champion of Champions – lost 21-15 at Bankton Mains to Scott Mushet, 49, whose main claim to fame is two championship title wins at Philpstoun.
Mushet forced the 32-year-old Scotland skip on to the back foot in
the early stages to lead 14-8 having twice crashed the jack into the ditch for two-shot rewards when attacking heads of 4 and 2 against him.
Logan was far from finished, however, and he shook Mushet with a big 3 and 4 fight-back to cross 15-14 but it was the underdog that stole the show with a majestic run of 4, 1, 2 to 21.
The remaining 13 of the original 16 seeds all survived led by defending champion Andrew Dunnett of Kirkliston although the 34-year-old No.1 had his work cut out to beat Kenny Black, 22, of East Calder.
Black had home green advantage and the two-times club champion hoped to celebrate his birthday with a win but was just denied by a 21-19 decision that was always hanging in the balance.
Black opened strongly to lead 10-3 and managed to keep the two-times Master in arrears until 17-15 but Dunnett edged a hat-trick of singles to hit the front at 18-17 then answered the loss of a double with a 3 to win in 26 ends.
Neil Speirs, the No.2 seed from Kirkliston, stepped up his bid for a second title success with a runaway win over Eddie McFalane of East Calder at Winchburgh.
John Aitken, the No.3 seed from Kirkliston, found himself fully extended against Stephen Pettigrew of Buchan Park at Stoneyburn but the 53-year-old stayed on track for a third Masters title with a 21-18 win in 25 ends.
Ewan Shearer, the No.4 seed from Bo'ness, made the short journey to Bridgeness to play club champion Gordon Linton and trailed 6-0 before triumphing 21-14 in 21 ends.
Seeds still challenging for the Green Jacket and £1000 Masters cheque are: George Sneddon (8), Thomas Mann (9), Raymond Logan (10), Frazer Muirhead (11), Alec Allan (12), Neil McLean (13), Steven Fleming (14), Stewart McMaster (15) and Bryan Cooper (16).
Tonight's third-round action takes place at Broxburn, Uphall Station, Bellsburn, Buchan Park, Glenmavis, Deans, Newbridge and Ratho.
The full article contains 440 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
