IN the rarified atmosphere of a World Bowls Tour ranking event, one young Worcestershire player caught the imagination of spectators in the International Open at Burgess Hill in Sussex.

Andy Walters, who was born in Cheltenham but lives in Broadway and plays out of the Malvern Hills club, was one of nine PBA qualifiers who caused major upsets by beating a seeded player in the first round.

Walters, who is only 21 — but takes size 18 shoes — defeated popular Aussie Kelvin Kerkow, 11-5, 8-8 in the opening round.

He said: “When I arrived, I was surrounded by familiar faces whom I recognised from watching bowls on TV. It was a marvellous experience to share the rink with them.”

He added: “Kelvin was a perfect gentleman, and a real pleasure to play against.”

Walters’ tournament ended at the second round stage when he was unlucky to lose to fellow qualifier Richard Morgan.

Walters, in his maiden year on the World Bowls Tour, outplayed Welshman Morgan to win the opening set by an eight-point margin.

Morgan, ranked 20 in the world and the highest-ranked qualifier, was 5-4 down going into the final end of the second set when Walters failed to take advantage of a re-spotted jack and allowed his opponent to convert a single into a double to win the set.

Morgan took the advantage in the tie-break ends and, in the second, played a delightful final bowl which decisively drew the shot to eliminate the need to measure between a pair of bowls which seemed equidistant from the jack.

After his 1-9, 6-5, 2-0 victory, Morgan conceded: “Andy played the better bowls for most of the match.”

Walters is the nephew and Broadway clubmate of Commonwealth Games squad member Sue Davies, who, among others, has influenced his development in the sport.

“My mother bought me membership of the PBA as a 21st birthday present,” said Walters, who was inspired by the achievements of his friend and rival Steve Knight, from the Cotswold club, in the world singles in January.

He added: “I thought I might as well have a go, so I entered the qualifying tournament and won through the play-offs at Bristol.”

Trailing by three shots with one end to play in the second set of his first round match, Walters held one shot when he stepped on to the mat to deliver the last bowl and needed to move the jack two-and-a-half inches for a set-tying treble.

That is exactly what he did — a perfect delivery that was hailed ‘shot of the tournament’ earned him a tied set.

Walters explained his choice of playing at Malvern by saying: “It’s a long way from my home in Broadway to Malvern, but I play out of Worcestershire outdoors, and was determined to stay in the county for the indoor game as well.”