Some of the best lawn bowlers in the world are from south Orange County and will compete a month from now in the United States National Lawn Bowling Championships in Seattle.
From Aug. 23-28 at the Jefferson Park Bowling Club, Maryna Hyland, Charlie Herbert, Tony Baer and Brian Stewart — all members of Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club, based in Corona del Mar — will compete in the competition against six other teams from around the country.
Each has won a United States Lawn Bowling Assn. Southwest Divisional Play Down competition. Hyland, with her partner Heather Stewart (no relation to Brian Stewart) from the Laguna Beach Lawn Bowling Club, won in Women's Pairs; Baer, with his partner Aaron Zangl from Hermosa Beach Lawn Bowling Club, won in Men's Pairs; Charlie Herbert and his partner Brian Stewart won in Men's Pairs.
Hyland, Baer and Herbert are "Skips", who are similar to quarterbacks in football because they direct the play of the game. In 2005, Hyland and her bowling partner won the National title, and this is the third time they've competed in the event.