However, players are officially back on the greens with the 2020 major singles championships getting underway last weekend.

Play got under way early on Saturday morning in less than pleasant conditions and continued through to Sunday afternoon where four very entertaining quarter final matches were played.

Gus Laruffa, who has won the title for the past two years, took on Brad Naylor and, when Naylor fought back from a large deficit to hit the front 29-26 in the first to 31 game, the match looked his.

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However, Laruffa had other ideas and, in an exciting climax, he picked up two shots on the final end to defeat the unlucky Naylor 31-30.

Incredibly on other rinks, similar scenarios were being played out.

Anthony Gatt had raced out to a 13 shot lead over his opponent Max Douglas and looked set for certain victory.

Douglas however steadied and, in a methodical manner, got himself back in the match.

He picked up three shots on the last two ends and squeaked home 31-29 over a very disappointed Gatt.

Keith Ryall found himself nearly out of the game in his match against Luke Fisher, but clawed his way back into the game.

When he went to a 29 to 24 lead, the comeback was almost complete.

However, the game wasn't over and Fisher rallied to win the final in a tense three ends to squeeze past Ryall 31-29.

In the last quarter-final match, Tim Barnes was ruthless in his defeat of Leon Maybon, never letting him into the match and ran out a comfortable winner 31-19.

The championship will be concluded on Saturday with the semi-finals being played in the morning and the final in the afternoon.

Douglas and Fisher will clash in one semi, while the other match will be a replay of last year's final between Laruffa and Barnes.

Round one

Ryall d Broadrick 31-11, Ramsay d Barker 31-30, B Harris d D Harris 31-13, Laruffa d O'Callaghan 31-16, Everett d McAliece 31-12, Maybon d Reneker 31-17, Barnes d Wornes 31-11, Condron d McBride 31-13, Fisher d Looby 31-21, B Donnelly d Walker 31-16, Douglas d Bull 31-9.

Round two

Maybon d B Harris 31-13, Gatt d Ramsay 31-4, Laruffa d Reynolds 31-8, Barnes d Condron 31-8, Ryall d Spadaro 31-12, Douglas d B Donnelly 31-27, Naylor d Everett 31-23, Fisher d P Sheldrick 31-28.

Quarter finals

Laruffa d Naylor 31-30, Douglas d Gatt 31-29, Fisher d Ryall 31-29, Barnes d Maybon 31-19.