The men’s event started on Monday (October 20) with bowlers taking to the greens for the first and second rounds.

Close to 100 bowlers, making up 48 teams have come from all over NSW to contest the event. 

Players have come from the likes of Beresfield, Ettalong, Taren Point, Tea Gardens, Nelson Bay, Port Macquarie and Ballina. District clubs including Forster, Tuncurry, Black Head, Pacific Palms and Taree are also competing. 

Over the course of the tournament, bowlers will play five games. 

Forster Men’s Bowling Club president Aubrey Judge said this year an $11,000 prize pool was up for grabs as well as a $1600 second chance draw. 

“This tournament is always highly regarded,” Mr Judge said.  

“Some of the best players in NSW have come to play in this event. There’s some tough competition out there. I’d say it will be neck and neck come the final.”

Bowls coordinator Geoff Robinson said it is hard to tell who will finish on top with one of last year’s winners, Jason Aurisch beaten in the first round.

“He (Aurisch) needs to win all of his remaining games to stay in the running,” he said. 

“A pair from Beresfield: Warren Shipley who’s the skipper and his partner Bogden Duma, look like they’ll do well along with Rocky Davis who was the runner up in the state and his partner Ken Johnson from North Haven.

“Others who also have a good chance are Marty Gosper from Tuncurry and his partner Dylan Riley from Taree.” 

The Classic Pairs will finish tomorrow, weather permitting, with the semi final in the morning followed by the final in the afternoon.