Elgar finished runner-up at the champion of champion world singles in Sydney last month, and claimed a few international scalps along the way, including Scottish Commonwealth Games selection Derek Oliver 2-0. Heading into last year's national championships, Elgar not only had home advantage, but had shown good form leading into competition. Roberts (25) appears to have a big future ahead of him, having won the national intercentre title in 2015. Lawson, who won a third national pairs title last year when partnered up with Neville Rodda, last won the coveted singles title in 1994. Nisbett's pairs partner, former TVNZ broadcaster John McBeth (Raumati South), faces a tough second-round game against world champion Shannon McIlroy in section 17 at Outram.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 27, 2017 16:30 UTC