New Australian Open singles champion Aaron Teys and reigning Illawarra singles champion Brett Pieper headline the contenders for the zone 16 singles title after advancing to next weekend's quarter-finals.

Four singles rounds were played at a host of clubs last weekend with Towradgi Park headquarters for the quarter-finals on Saturday week through to the final on July 12.

Five clubs have a representative in the last eight of the open singles, with Warilla leading the way through the in-form Teys, plus last year's Illawarra championships star Jeremy Henry and reigning South Pacific winner Jesse Noronha.

Last Thursday Teys pulled off the biggest win of his career by beating Canadian international Ryan Bester in the Australian Open singles final on Bester's home green Broadbeach Bowling Club.

Teys then headed to Windang BC last Saturday afternoon and beat Paul Wesley 31-21 in round two of the Illawarra zone 16 singles.

Teys then beat Wiseman Park's Steve Haines 31-28 in round three at Albion Park BC before qualifying for the quarter-finals with a win over Woonona's Anthony O'Neill 31-14. Teys now takes on Kiama's Brad Rossiter on Saturday week for a semi-final spot against the winner of the mouth-watering clash between Teys' Warilla club-mate Jeremy Henry or Wiseman Park teenager Dylan Skinner.

The impressive Rossiter had wins over Thirroul's Carl Morgan 31-27 in round two, Jarrod Beckford (Corrimal) 31-17 and Wiseman Park's Mal Lyons 31-16 in round four.

Last year Corrimal bowls co-ordinator Brett Pieper became only the third player in 60 years to claim back-to-back open single titles and is a chance of winning three straight crowns after winning four matches to make the quarter-finals.

Pieper beat the 2000 singles champion Paul Woods (Oak Flats) 31-24 in round one at Windang, then overcame Robbie Glenn (Warilla) 31-8, plus defeated Brad Whitford (Dapto) 31-12, and finally overcame Warren Hamilton (Woonona) 31-30 in round four in one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament.

Pieper takes on his Corrimal clubmate Scott Bateup in the quarter-finals, with the winner to face either Jesse Noronha or Roger Duggan (Albion Park).

After beating Andrew Mackie (Windang) 31-12 in round one, Duggan had a 31-13 victory over Wiseman Park's Adrian Jones.

Duggan then beat teenager Jordan Taylor (Dapto Citizens) 31-20, before also winning 31-20 against Jordan Taylor's father Glen Taylor in round four.