Australian squash star Mike Corren brought his career haul of PSA World Tour titles to 43 when he beat local hope Evan Williams in today’s final of the Doubledot Media Christchurch Boys High School Open at Christchurch Boys High School in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The 38-year-old from Adelaide was tested throughout the inaugural PSA World Tour Challenger 5 event – taken to five games in the quarter-finals and four in the semis, both times by Kiwis.
Second seed Williams got off to a flying start in the first game of the final, building up a 7-1 lead before Corren fought back to draw level, then steadying the ship to win first game. The next two games went to the top seed with Williams making errors on the crucial points.
“Williams then fought back strongly and took a commanding lead of 6-2 in the fourth,” said event spokesman Antony Liken. “Corren wasn’t able to close the gap and Williams took that game quite easily to take the match into a final game decider.
“The fifth was a battle all the way with a number of long rallies and let calls. Corren had a match ball at 10-9, but a no let tied the game. Corren managed to take the victory with the next two points, a stroke call ending the match at 12-10.”
The 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 3-11, 12-10 triumph in 82 minutes marks Corren’s sixth Antipodean Tour title this year – and the 43rd of his career.
Final:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [2] Evan Williams (NZL) 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 3-11, 12-10 (82m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt Joseph Watts (NZL) 11-4, 12-10, 5-11, 11-8 (40m)
[2] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [3] Paul Coll (NZL) 11-7, 11-9, 8-11, 12-10 (60m)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [Q] Scott Gardiner (NZL) 13-11, 4-11, 11-6, 10-12, 12-10 (40m)
Joseph Watts (NZL) bt [4] Josh Cardwell (AUS) 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 (39m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Alex Grayson (NZL) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (22m)
[2] Evan Williams (NZL) bt Luke Sims (AUS) 11-9, 11-5, 11-4 (26m)
1st round:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt Joshua Southwell-Nobbs (AUS) 13-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 (38m)
[Q] Scott Gardiner (NZL) bt James Skiffington (NZL) 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (27m)
Joseph Watts (NZL) bt [Q] Evans Chileshe (NZL) 11-4, 11-6, 11-8 (21m)
[4] Josh Cardwell (AUS) bt [Q] Matiu Te Kani-McQueen (NZL) 12-10, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 (44m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Andrew Fraser (AUS) 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7 (36m)
Alex Grayson (NZL) bt [Q] Chris van der Salm (NZL) 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 (34m)
Luke Sims (AUS) bt Andrew Ellis (NZL) 11-8, 11-5, 11-2 (24m)
[2] Evan Williams (NZL) bt Lance James Beddoes (NZL) 11-4, 11-7, 11-1 (25m)
Qualifying finals:
Chris van der Salm (NZL) bye
Evans Chileshe (NZL) bt Tim Preston (NZL) w/o
Matiu Te Kani-McQueen (NZL) bt Greg Johnston (NZL) 11-8, 11-4, 12-10 (35m)
Scott Gardiner (NZL) bye
