Twelve-year-old bowler has officials reaching for history books
"Zoey is such a level-headed kid and well-respected."
Zoe Beck has had some intrigued bowling officials doing a bit of pondering.
At just 12 years old Zoe won the Bowls Southland Mixed Triples title alongside her mum Emma Drake and Craig Merrilees at the weekend.
It’s understood the James Hargest College pupil is now the youngest ever to claim a Southland open bowls title, and as of Monday bowls officials were waiting for confirmation as to whether she is also the youngest in New Zealand to win an open title.
Zoe got to put her name up in lights alongside one of Southland’s most decorated bowlers in Merrilees.
While the 2023 Southland Mixed Triples title was Zoe and mum Emma’s first provincial title, it was Merrilees 29th.
Merrilees is a Waikiwi Bowling Club member while the mother and daughter combo are members of the Waihopai Bowling Club.
Waihopai Bowling Club president Murray Heath agreed that it was great for the club and sport to have someone so young emerge as a Southland open title winner.
“Zoey is such a level-headed kid and well-respected,” Heath said.
Despite being just 12, Zoe is a third-year bowler.
Her journey in the sport started three years ago when she joined her mum Emma and grandmother Diane in attending social bowls at the Waihopai Bowling Club.
The since progressed to attend various tournaments throughout the province.
“They’ve got right into it… It’s really cool,” Heath said.
36 teams entered the Craig Design & Print Southland-sponsored Mixed Triples with Merrilees, Beck, and Drake emerging as the victors.
Runners up was a very gallant Te Rangi Bowling Club team skipped by the experienced Graham Low, who had been unbeaten leading up to the final.