National Titles go to Sommers and Foster
Posted by Pat Foster on 19-Feb-2007Categories: News,Tournaments Add Trackback
Denise Sommers and Patrick Foster were crowned National Champions this weekend winning the Ladies and Men’s Fast Forward Freight National Championships respectively.
A fantastic week of squash ended with a packed house for finals night at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association. The 122 entries were whittled down thoughout the week to just 36 finalists.
First on court was the Junior Under 13′s consolation final between Alexandra Marshall and Christian Hillen. In a titanic struggle Christian came from 2 games to 1 behind to clinch the 5th game. Meanwhile on court 2 Chris Stout was taking on the athletic Kristian Muldoon in the Under 17 Final. The two looked evenly matched playing some long, well constucted rallies but Muldoon proved to strong running out a 3-0 winner. The Under 13 title was won by 10 year old sensation Emma Keane. Emma cleverly used high lobs and soft drops at the front to stun her older stronger opponent D’Vario Thompson, 12 in a resounding 3-0 win. Last of the junior finals was the Under 17 consolation were Nicholas Brewer quelled strong resistance from Jaryn Martin taking the match 3-0.
The Men’s Veterans title was contested between Richard Brewer and Norman Furtado. There was nothing between the two players as they battled to a tie break in the first game. Brewer took it and Furtado struggled to keep with the pace of the match after that eventually going down 3-0. The Ladies Veterans Final finished with the same score line, a repeat of last years Ladies Open final, Liz Martin had too much fitness, speed and power for Denise Kyme’s shot making winning 9-6, 9-5, 9-1.
For the first time in years the Ladies event boasted two full 16 draw divisions. Division 2 was fiercly contested throughout featuring some classic matches such as; Christine Pauwels beating Goretti Clementino in the 1st round 2-9, 2-9, 9-6, 9-5, 9-7, Suzette Bridges beating Yvonne West in the quarters 9-2, 9-0, 6-9, 6-9, 9-5 and culminating in a great final in which Sandra Maderos took the title beating Michelle Hodder 9-2, 7-9, 9-4, 9-1.
The Ladies Division 1 was no different, again featuring some fantastic 5 game matches in the early rounds; Carol Ferris ousting Kathy Keane 9-6, 9-3, 7-9, 4-9, 9-4, Sam De Putron saving 3 match balls before eventually beating Val Protheroe 9-2, 9-5, 7-9, 5-9, 10-9. There was however no stopping Denise Sommers in her first ever tournament in Bermuda and first competitive matches in 18 months following serious knee surgery. On her way to the finals she accounted for Joanie Harper, Kerry Haslam and Denise Kyme before coming up against new arrival to Bermuda, Leah Bishop. Bishop worked hard in the final throwing everything she had at Sommers but was unable to break the former world #24′s rythmn and succumed 9-0, 9-2, 9-0.
The Men’s event featured 3 divisions. 32 players in the 2nd and 3rd divisions and 16 players in the PSA sanctioned, world ranking event, division 1.
Division 3 did not go at all as planned, according to the seedings. Seeded 9-16, David Hunter battled through to become champion taking out Korin Knights, Eric Pengelly, Chris Kennedy and Craig Davis on his way to the final. There he met 17-32 seed Tony Riker who fought past Darren Martin, Davon Wade and Nick Hirn to the final. A close final followed with Hunter winning 9-6, 9-5, 9-5.
Division 2 continued the pattern of close scoring hard fought matches. Some of the highlights were; Grant Sousa beating Jeff Roach 10-8, 7-9, 7-9, 10-9, 10-8, Andy McComb beating Marco Bortoli 7-9, 9-6, 10-8, 9-0, Danielle Bortoli beating Phil Barnes 9-0, 9-4, 9-10, 9-2. The final was contested between 13 year old Micah Franklin reaching his first senior final and the experienced Rob Hopping. I tight match ensued with Franklin just managing to win the first 2 games. Hopping easily won the 3rd against a tired looking opponent however Franklin found his touch again and took the 4th game 9-6 and the division 2 title.
The Men’s Division 1 event produced some fantastic squash for the large numbers of spectators throughout the week.
First round highlights were Jan Brewer outlasting Chris Dawson over 5 hard games, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 2-11, 11-7 and Bermuda under 15 champion, Kristian Muldoon taking Bermuda National Team member Mel Caines the distance in a 11-9, 11-13, 14-12, 4-11, 11-1 thriller. All the quarters went according to seeding with Nick Kyme, James Stout, Chase Toogood and Patrick Foster all reaching the semi finals. In the bottom half of the draw Patrick Foster overcame strong resistance from Chase Toogood in a 11-5, 11-2, 11-6 win. Next on were top seed Nick Kyme and long time adversary James Stout. Stout proceeded to play fantastic attacking squash to take his first ever win against Kyme by a scoreline of 11-5, 11-3, 12-10 and take his place in the national final.
The Men’s Division 1 final was a mix of explosive attacking play from Stout and desperate retrieval from Foster over the first 2 games. Foster took the first 11-8, Stout claiming the 2nd by the same scoreline. The 3rd and 4th games were again split one a piece which left all to play for in a deciding 5th game. Stout started well leading 4-1 and then 7-4 before a couple of tins from Stout and winners from Foster brought the score level at 8-8. It was experience that carried Foster through the next 3 points and to a 2nd National Title infront of an appreciative crowd who enthusiastically cheered both players on throughout the final.
Congratulations to all the players. A full List of results is below.
Men’s Division 1 Final: Patrick Foster bt James Stout 11-8, 8-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8
Men’s Division 2 Final: Micah Franklin bt Rob Hopping 9-7, 10-8, 2-9, 9-6
Men’s Division 3 Final: David Hunter bt Tony Riker 9-6, 9-5, 9-5
Ladies Division 1 Final: Denise Sommers bt Leah Bishop 9-0, 9-2, 9-0
Ladies Division 2 Final: Sandra Maderos bt Michelle Hodder 9-2, 7-9, 9-4, 9-1
Men’s Veterans Final: Richard Brewer bt Norman Furtado 10-8, 9-0, 9-0
Ladies Veterans Final: Liz Martin bt Denise Kyme 9-6, 9-5, 9-1
Junior Under 17 Final: Kristian Muldoon bt Chris Stout 9-3, 9-2, 9-5
Junior Under 13 Final: Emma Keane bt D’Vario Thompson 9-4, 9-2, 9-5
Men’s 1 Con Final: Richard Van Liendon bt Colin Alexander 3-1
Men’s 2 Con Final: Paul Slabber bt Padraic Browne 7-9, 9-6, 9-3, 9-2
Men’s 3 Con Final: Korin Knights bt Darren Martin 10-8, 9-8, 9-3
Ladies 1 Con Final: Val Protheroe bt Erin Moran 9-2, 9-6, 9-4
Ladies 2 Con Final: Liz Gardner bt Amy Chan 9-5, 9-6, 9-4
Men’s Veterans Con Final: Tony Riker bt John Neal 3-0
Ladies Veterans Con Final: Annie Glasspool bt Linda Lewis 9-0, 9-0, 9-1
Junior Under 13 Con Final: Christian Hillen bt Alexandra Marshall 9-5, 6-9, 3-9, 9-1, 9-3
Junior Under 17 Con Final: Nicholas Brewer bt Jaryn Martin 9-1, 9-7, 9-0
To view Bermuda Sun coverage go to : http://www.bermudasun.org/main.asp?SectionID=8
To view Royal Gazette coverage go to : http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070219/SPORT/102190157
Comments»
Great site Patrick, hope to see it this great in the future