FORMER Shoalhaven Heads lawn bowler Karen Murphy is on top of the world – literally.
Murphy has won her first world indoor trophy in Norwich, England, taking out the Fred Olsen Cruise Lines Ladies World Matchplay title at Potters Leisure Resort.
The 37-year-old admitted she as good as stole the title from the grasp of England’s Debbie Stavrou.
After going down to the consistent Stavrou in the opening set 10-4, and being 6-2 down in the second Murphy had her back to the wall.
But she played some amazing shots to force her way back into the final.
She eventually managed to take the second set 7-6 with a superb draw shot, nudging the jack back a few centimetres to claim a double and the win.
The tie break was all one way traffic with Murphy winning two of the best of three ends to take the title.
In fact her first two bowls on each end were resting touchers.
“Talk about stealing the title,” Murphy beamed.
“I was pretty much dead and buried in the final.
“I was towled up 10-4 in the first set and down 6-2 after six of the nine ends – I was gone.
“But I rallied and the last two bowls I played in that set were among the best I have ever played.
“The tie breaker was a bit like the Commonwealth Games win over the Kiwis, I went bang, bang and it was all over – it was just amazing.
“I couldn’t believe it, Debbie probably outplayed me and in the end I pulled the rug out from under her and stole the title.
“It’s an amazing feeling.”
She said the victory was right up there in her career, alongside her Commonwealth Games gold medal and win in the World Fours.
“This is up there, in the top three for sure,” she said.
The win was even more special to Murphy as it came on Australia Day.
Three events were staged at the World Indoor titles with Murphy taking part in each.
While the top eight ladies battled it out in the matchplay there was also the mixed pairs where the top eight ladies were matched with the top eight men.
She partnered Englishman Merv King, but they bowed out in the first round.
She was also the only lady to line up in the world indoor pairs where she teamed with youngster Ben Twist, making it through qualifying before bowing out in the quarter finals.
It is not her first world singles crown, she won the under 25 indoor title back in 1999, and has also made the final of the World Cup World Indoor at Warilla on two occasions.
A four-time winner of the Australian Indoor Singles title she is keen for another crack at the Warilla event again in 2012.
Fresh from her gold medal success in the fours at the Asia Pacific Championships in Adelaide, she has been renamed in the 10-member Australian womens’ squad, which includes Bomaderry young gun Sarah Boddington and is also eyeing off the World Bowls Championships which will also be staged in Adelaide in October.
And a further honour for Murphy, she has been named as one of the finalists in the prestigious 2012 BCiB female bowler of the year along side –Natasha Van Eldik.
The winner will be announced at Melbourne’s Park Hyatt on the eve of the Australian Open, on Saturday, February 18.
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