Mason Bayliss is fast becoming one of the region's best bowlers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Beechworth export made the switch to Wodonga at the start of the 2018-19 season and worked his way up to skip a rink in the Bulldogs' A1 pennant side.
Bayliss recorded the biggest individual win of his career at the weekend when he claimed the Ovens and Murray Champion of Champions singles at Corowa Civic.
The 24-year-old defeated Rutherglen's Chris Langdon 25-16 in the final to book his place at Champions Week in Bendigo in April.
He saw off Swanpool's Doug Stewart 25-7 in the semi-final and defeated Mansfield's Noel Jackson 25-3 a round earlier, who defeated him in the Champion of Champions final two years ago.
ALSO IN SPORT:
"I knew it was always going to be a tough battle and I knew I had to bring my best and start well," Bayliss said.
"I managed to start well and got a handy lead early and managed to maintain that for the majority of the game.
"I found a bit of form at the right time. Since Christmas it's been pretty good.
"I beat Ashley Bates in the final of the club singles as well, which was good because he beat me in the final last year, 25-23.
"I made a statement at presentation last year that I'd never let him beat me again (laughs) and I was reminded of that about five minutes before we started to play, which was quite funny.
"I'd actually forgotten about it and it put all the pressure on me."
Bowls certainly runs in the family with Bayliss' grandfather, Paul Carey, one of the region's most decorated players, having represented Victoria on more than 100 occasions, while his father, Richard, is a respected bowler at Beechworth.
"I started playing with dad and pop when I was 12," Bayliss said.
"They've both had their far share of credentials in the game and obviously pop being an ex-state rep, but I'm very quick to remind them now I've won as many singles as them combined (laughs).
"Typical character, as soon as pop found out I won, the first words he said were 'I better come back next year to give you some competition' and we had a bit of a laugh.
"I've always prided myself on my singles game and that's probably from the two to three-hour battles I used to have with dad a couple of nights a week.
"We used to get the most out of each other and it was always a good, competitive environment when I started to play a bit.
"At the same time, I love skipping a rink in pennant here. Going from the team game to an individual game is a good challenge in itself, but I enjoy all aspects of it."
Bayliss will now shift his attention to helping Wodonga defend its A1 pennant crown against Corowa Civic at Yarrawonga-Mulwala Golf Club Resort on Saturday.
He won his first pennant crown as a 16-year-old at Wodonga in 2012, leading for his grandfather, with last year's A1 title at Wodonga his fourth after claiming two at Beechworth in lower divisions in between.
Bayliss decided the time was right to return to Wodonga last season and challenge himself in the top grade.
"I started skipping last year and I think I dropped my first five games, four of them were by one shot," he said.
"I got given the nickname 'lettuce' as in let us down again, which believe or not is still my nickname in the team two years later (laughs).
"I played the second half of last year at third to 'Batesy' and that was a really good learning experience for me, he's helped my game a lot the last couple of years.
"This year I've skipped every game and he's playing third to me.
"Similar story, I think I lost three of my first five and dropped them all by single digits, but I worked hard on my game over Christmas and the form has been pretty solid since.
"Hopefully we've got one more win in us."
Bayliss knows a full strength Corowa Civic will provide a huge test in the grand final, having won their previous four fixtures and drawing with Wodonga when they last played three weeks out from finals.
"We picked them out at the start of the year and we understand they haven't played with their full side, but I believe they're all playing this weekend," he said.
"It should be a great challenge and I know we'll be certainly up for it."