The Wangaratta bowler won the novice men's singles at Warrnambool's City Memorial Bowls Club as part of Bowls Victoria's 2020 Champions Week.

COVID-19 postponed the novice event which started in March, 2020, with the final due to be played last April.

But it was worth the wait for Fruend as he defeated Simon Leon from Murrumbeena Park, 21-13, in the final on Wednesday.

"It was awesome to get it done with and get it off the back I suppose. It's been 18 months or so," Fruend said.

"I probably didn't play my best in the four games, but I played well enough to win."

ALSO IN SPORT:

Fruend said he struggled early in the final, but did enough to hang in.

"Once I got my rhythm going, I was probably the more dominant player," he said.

"This is my largest individual achievement to date.

"I've been lucky enough to win the (Ovens and Murray) fours last year and the pairs this year and represent Victoria in a few games, but this is definitely one of my pinnacle achievements."

Fruend lost in the first round of the fours this week with father Craig, Mark Bell and Ian Brimblecombe to the side that won the event.

Brimblecombe went on to make the semi-finals of the men's singles.

Yarrawonga's Kim Johnston reached the final of the novice women's singles.

Wangaratta's Peta Mattys made the women's Champion of Champion singles semi-finals, while YMGCR's Sue Middleton and Benalla's Kerri Leask were semi-finalists in the women's pairs.