Here at the Dewars Centre in the Co-op Funeralcare Scottish International Open the opening match this morning on a frosty Monday was between England’s Greg Harlow, the defending champion and Neil Furman from the USA. It took Furman quite a while to settle into the match and the first set went to Harlow without any hitches at all as he wrapped it up 9-0.
The second set, however, was a different story as Furman found his weight on the blue portable rink and by end 4 held a 5-0 lead. Harlow managed a great triple on end 5, Furman played a great bowl to steal a single away on end 7 and Harlow responded with a single on end 7. Furman wrapped up the set in the next two ends to take it 4-9 and force the tie break. It was a great tie break with good bowls from both players, Harlow took the first end and Furman the second. In the third and final end it was Harlow with his last bowl that took the end match to get through to the second round where he plays England’s Mervyn King on Tuesday afternoon.