Strathmiglo ace Doig settles for world silver

Fife bowler Lesley Doig pushed reigning champion Karen Murphy all the way in the women’s singles final at the World Outdoor Championships in Christchurch yesterday.

The 25-year-old Strathmiglo ace picked up the silver medal after losing 21-13 in an exciting final.

Doig admitted she had failed to find the sort of form that took her to the final,

“I held a good second shot on the 20th end,” said Doig.

“But Karen showed why she is one of the sport’s all-time greats by playing a perfect bowl to trail the jack just far enough to give her the four shots she needed to win the game.

“It was disappointing to lose but I really am over the moon with my silver – and with the way I have played on these fast greens.”

Murphy, 41, has won an impressive array of international titles and things looked ominous for Doig when the experienced Aussie opened up a lead of 6-0 after four ends – but the Scot had drawn level at 6-6 by the seventh.

Murphy began to dominate, scoring on five ends in succession to lead 13-6 after 12, then went on lead 16-9.

The writing appeared to be on the wall for the dental nurse, who works in a surgery in Cupar, but she fought back bravely, scoring four shots to Murphy’s one over the next four ends and it seemed that she was still in with a chance at 17-13.

However, Murphy retained her composure to regain the title she last won in 2012.