Joe Lee led a trio of English qualifiers into the main draw of the 2011 Santiago Open, the PSA World Tour International 25 event at Shopping Center Area Central in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Lee, a 22-year-old former world No57 making his comeback after a back injury, dashed local hope Alejandro Garbi Caro 11-5, 11-7, 13-11 – and is joined by compatriots Charles Sharpes and Olivier Pett in the main draw of the Tour event in its fifth successive year in Santiago de Compostela.
Lee’s St George’s Hill club-mate Sharpes battled for 76 minutes to overcome Mexican Alfredo Avila 6-11, 11-9, 14-12, 10-12, 11-9, while – on the eve of his 23rd birthday – Pett defeated South African Shaun le Roux 11-5, 11-7, 12-10.
Lee (pictured in Santiago action with Garbi) faces local hero Borja Golan in the first round. Born and raised in Santiago, Golan won his hometown title in 2008 – and is seeded to reach the 2011 semi-finals.
England’s world No17 Adrian Grant returns to Santiago to defend the title he won last year in his second successive appearance in the final. The London-based left-hander takes on Italian Stephane Galifi in the first round.
1st round line-up:
[1] Adrian Grant (ENG) v Stephane Galifi (ITA)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Jan Koukal (CZE) v [Q] Charles Sharpes (ENG)
[4] Chris Simpson (ENG) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
[3] Borja Golan (ESP) v [Q] Joe Lee (ENG)
Mark Krajcsak (HUN) v Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP)
Adrian Waller (ENG) v [Q] Olivier Pett (ENG)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [Q] Fabien Verseille (FRA)
Qualifying finals:
Charles Sharpes (ENG) bt Alfredo Avila (MEX) 6-11, 11-9, 14-12, 10-12, 11-9 (76m)
Joe Lee (ENG) bt Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) 11-5, 11-7, 13-11 (34m)
Olivier Pett (ENG) bt Shaun le Roux (RSA) 11-5, 11-7, 12-10 (30m)
Fabien Verseille (FRA) bt Amir El Samahy (EGY) 6-11, 13-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-5 (62m)
1st qualifying round:
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt Julien Balbo (FRA) 9-11, 5-11, 11-4, 11-0, 11-6 (60m)
Charles Sharpes (ENG) bt Leandro Romiglio Fernandez (ESP) 7-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 (49m)
Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt David Vidal (ESP) 11-2, 11-7, 11-5 (26m)
Joe Lee (ENG) bt Steven Finitsis (AUS) 11-5, 12-10, 11-6 (36m)
Olivier Pett (ENG) bt Clinton Leeuw (RSA) 12-10, 11-2, 11-8 (36m)
Shaun le Roux (RSA) bt Hugo Varela (ESP) 10-12, 11-0, 11-7, 11-7 (46m)
Fabien Verseille (FRA) bt Pascal Gomez (ESP) 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (25m)
Amir El Samahy (EGY) bye
