CAC Open 2018
01-06 May, Concourse AC, Sandy
Springs, USA, $15kx2
FINALS: Whitlock and Hanson lift CAC titles
After
a long week of fantastic squash, the CAC Squash Open 2018 came
to a close with the finals of Emily Whitlock v Millie
Tomlinson, and Todd Harrity v Chris Hanson being the
event to watch for the day. Ahmed Hosny was the referee for the
day after being taken out by Todd the day before.
We had a great afternoon of matches to be played and the
audience were all waiting in anticipation filling the seats
waiting to see Emily and Millie play the first final of the day.
Once
Whitlock and Tomlinson started the match, it was clear from the
outset that Millie was determined to chip away at fellow English
team mate Whitlock with some fantastic rallies and well earned
rallies being played. Tomlinson took a good start but Whitlock
started the grind and pulled it back to take control of the
game. Whitlock took the first 11-9.
Second game, Tomlinson dug deep and pushed Whitlock around again
hoping to open up some opportunities to attack and take control
but again Whitlock got into her strides and controlled the game
taking the 2nd 11-9 before eventually going on again into the
3rd more composed and control winning 11-7.
After the match, Whitlock said: "It was a great tournament
and one of the first events of equal pay in the South-East of
the USA and one that I am looking forward to playing again.
Thank you to Rob Wilkins for hosting this event and we all look
forward to his next tournament."
Next match of the day was Todd Harrity and Chris Hanson, the
all American final. Both players looked very sharp and ready to
go as they started the match.
Hanson looked very composed and truly worked the rallies well
with his South-Paw game on Harrity's backhand side. There were
some fantastic shots and true control by Hanson as he stepped
off court taking the first 11-6. Harrity went back on court and
started to get on top of taking a good demanding lead before
Hanson got some beautiful shots and started to pull back the
control before taking the game 11-9.
3rd game, both players started off strong with Hanson looking to
finish the match on this game, but Harrity changed it up and was
much more aggressive in finishing the ball taking the 3rd 9-11.
4th game saw Hanson just on fire with great rallies, fantastic
composer under pressure working his opponent around the court
opening up some great winners before finally taking the last
game 11-9. This is the first time in 14 years that Hanson has
beaten his fellow team mate.
Hanson said: "I am thrilled to win the match, especially
since we have been playing each other for 14 years and this is
my first win. I was a great tournament and I would like to thank
everyone that helped me get here today"
Rob Wilkins the CAC Squash Director had this to say: "Overall
the tournament was a great success and was a great honor to be
the first event in the South-East of the US with an equally paid
tournament. We always had the goal of creating something a bit
different and we wanted to start with a good, strong event with
a great audience to watch.
"I am delighted to have had the opportunity to work with PSA in
bringing the tournament to Atlanta and plans are already
underway on a much larger circuit event for next season. Thank
you to our sponsors and patrons for making this event happen and
special thanks goes to our Primary Sponsors Keith Clemens and
Hutkay.Fit for making my dream a reality".
CAC Open 2018
01-06 May, Concourse AC, Sandy
Springs, USA, $15k
Nessrine Ariffin (Mas) bye
Lucy Beecroft (Eng) w/o Monica Alfons (Egy?)
Maria Lopez (Ecu) 3-2 Marie Stephan (Fra)
7-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7
Heba Nossier (Usa) bye
Semi-Finals: All-English and all-American finals set in Sandy
Springs
Semi Finals took place this afternoon with a full house of
players and squash players all looking to finding a place to sit
or stand to watch these matches. It was great to see so many new
faces taking interest in the high level play seen today.
Emily Whitlock and Ho Tze-Lok started today's match with
a fantastic display of fighting spirit with the first game going
18-16 to Ho. It was a hard fought first game and it could be
seen by Emily and Coach Phil Whitlock going through the next
game's strategy. Emily went back on court with a new strategy
and then comfortably went through Ho in the second game.
It was an exciting display of skill and great strategy by
Whitlock and the crowd were so impressed with how great the
level of play was. 3rd and 4th games were very much the same
when Emily settled in winning the match 3-1.
Todd Harrity and Ahmed Hosny were next matches on. Todd
was set from game 1 applying the pressure to the Egyptian and
not easing off taking a comfortable win into the Finals 11-4,
11-5 and 11-5. Great display of sportsmanship.
Millie Tomlinson took on Haley Mendez. Haley played a
great game and really pushed Millie around the court for the
first few points, until Tomlinson got into the game and started
building her rallies and taking control of the game. Millie kept
Haley contained throughout most of the match taking a
comfortable win 3-0 in the finals.
Final match of the evening was Jesus Camacho against the
American Chris Hanson. Jesus played a great first game
taking it 14-12. Jesus looked set to make a big upset, but Chris
came into the second game determined to take the lead quickly
and won the 2nd 11-4. Despite a big push back from Jesus, the
Mexican just could not get past the American's well refined game
with Chris keeping up the pace not slowing down and took the
final 2 games 11-8 and 11-4.
Tomorrow will be the finals with the number 1 and 2 seeds Emily
Whitlock and Millie Tomlinson going for the title at 2p.m.
Shortly after it is an all American final with Todd Harrity and
Chris Hanson going head to head at 3p.m.
Quarter-Finals: Hanson, Harrity and Mendez keep home
hopes alive
Quarter finals kicked off in true steam today with both 5pm
matches going the distance in 3-2 matches.
Mahesh Mangaonkar went up against Ahmed Hosny in a forceful
demonstration of squash both Physically and mentally. Eventually
both players settled into the match and got on with some great
squash and some excellent points. Ahmed took the lead early
11-8, 12-10 before Mahesh settled in and pushed back taking the
3rd and 4th 11-8, 11-9.
Both players went into the 5th desperate to take the win to
advance into the Semi-finals tomorrow and could be heard around
the club scrapping for every point. Ahmed screamed to a flying
start not letting off the pressure against Mahesh before taking
the game 11-5.
Understandably Mahesh left disappointed to the grit of the
Egyptian player.
Whitlock and Turmel played a clean and professional match with
Lucy scrumming to Whitlock's game style 11-7, 11-6, 11-6.
Hanson took on Joshua Masters as the last match of the evening.
Both Chris and Joshua took an aggressive start to the games with
the crowds behind trying to find a space to sit and watch.
Chris started off strong and pushed Joshua around the court with
his strong and controlled game taking the first 11-9. Second
game Joshua pushed back hard but the American had an answer for
this and controlled the tempo and pace of the game to take the
2nd 14-12 and then going into the third winning 11-9 ending the
matches for tonight.
Under way at Sandy Springs
Day One of the CAC Squash Open started today with over 30
players on courts getting ready for the week ahead. We had
members watching our players warming up and doing their routines
ready to start with qualifying.
At 5p.m we kicked off with some great matches and some upsets.
Justin Mather and Chris Longman started off our tournament with
a 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 win to Chris Longman. Local Spot Galen Le
Cheminant played Jason Hua with a 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 win to Galen.
Jamie Ruggiero and Jong-Won Hwang played a mammoth 80min match
with both players desperate for the win. Jong-Won fought hard
but eventually Jamie dug deep to take the win 13-11 in the 5th.
Qualifying finals are tonight, with the women's event also
getting under way.
