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Tournament Coverage |
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This unpublished
"extra" is available exclusively online. All ideas expressed
via RACQUETBALL Online [www.racqmag.com] are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official
position of the USRA. |
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In conjunction with a LPRA Pro-stop
February 2-4, 2001, S.H. Montaya sponsored the Watertown Open Championships in Watertown, New York. Attracting players
from around the State of New York, the tournament also featured some of the
top talented female players on the Pro tour. Held at Shapes Fitness Center,
the tournament also tapped into an experienced talent pool from the Fort
Drum Army base. The caliber of competition was high as tie-breaking matches emerged early in the tournament. No. 1 seeded players would fall prey to lower seeded players in virtually every division. The exception to the rule was in the Women's Open Division where top seeded Laura Fenton battled with No. 4 seed, Doreen Fowler to earn a spot in the final bracket. Top Mexican player, Susie Acosta would defeat Angela Grisar of Chile in the semi-final round and get a forfeit from No. 3 seeded Kim Machiran to put her in the finals. Fenton, who had the night to recuperate from back discomfort, would defeat No. 2 seeded Acosta 15-9 and 15-11. In the Men's Open Division, top seeded Walter Lowe would fall to No. 4 Tim Ahlfeld in the semi-final round. Ahlfeld would meet Jim Peters in the finals after Peters, seeded No. 2, toppled local favorite Rick Seemungal who started the weekend seeded No. 3. Ahlfeld would prevail with a 15-11, 15-9 win over Peters. In the Men's A Division, No. 1 seeded Dave Rainer would cruise to the finals without difficulty. Rainer, who is the undefeated local tournament favorite, would prepare to battle John F. Edwards in the final round. Edwards seeded No. 2, had to first get by unranked Roger Timian in the semi-finals. Edwards, who has played Timian on numerous occasions, would break their streak of always going to a third game by holding Timian to 9 and 7 points in the two games. In only one of two matches of the weekend where the top two seeded players survived to the finals, the crowd would be treated to a dramatic showdown. Edwards would win game one after going point for point with Rainer. In game two, Rainer's drive serves would help him to reduce offensive opportunities for Edwards and subsequently post a 15-10 win. Both players would trade points early in the tie-breaking round until Edwards would take advantage of forehand "put aways" to pull ahead to an 11-7 tournament win. In the Pro-Am Division, top seeded men were partnered with players from the LPRA for what proved to be some of the more closest contests. Fenton and Lowe, though seeded No. 2, would have a tough time in the semi-finals with the No. 3 seeded righty-lefty team of Machiran and Seemungal. With scores of 15-13 and 10-15, Fenton/Lowe would feel the pressure going into the third game. They however, would respond with accuracy and teamwork as they closed the match with an 11-6 win. On the other half of the bracket, Kersten Hallander and Jeff Hanno would be ranked No. 1 and easily defeat Christie Van Hees and Rich Davis by limiting them to 4 and 3 points. Unfortunately, while the crowd gathered, the much anticipated final match between the closely ranked No. 1 and 2 teams would not be played as Hallander left early and chose to forfeit the team's chance at the Division title and cash award. Seeded No. 1 in the Men's B Division, Timian would fall in an upset during his semi-final match to No. 4 seeded Briggs. Joey Legrett would challenge No. 3 seeded Steve Pena in the bottom bracket by taking game two and forcing a tie-breaking round. However, the No. 3 seed was determined to earn the win and would cruise to an 11-7 final score. In the final round, Pena would emerge with the win over Briggs. Also in the Men's C Division finals, No. 4 seed, Geoff Eliopoulos would dominate No. 2 seeded Stan Kaminski. Eliopoulos would shut out Kaminski in game one and only allow him seven points in the second game. |
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