Colombia Squash Challenger 2: Palomino Secures Maiden Title

Ronald Palomino claimed his maiden PSA Tour title this weekend with a victory at the Colombia Squash Challenger 2 in Bogota.

The 22-year-old, who was part of the Colombian quartet at the 2019 WSF Men’s World Team Championships in Washington, D.C., came into the event as the World No.202, and the tournament’s No.2 seed.

The event was run with only domestic entrants due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, saw only Colombian players involved, with Palomino receiving a bye through to the quarter-finals.

In the last eight, he downed No.7 seed Nicolas Serna in four games before getting the better of No.4 seed Felipe Tovar in the semi-finals.

He came up against top seed Edgar Ramirez Bautista in the final on Friday, and won in an hour, defeating his higher-ranked opponent in four games, winning 11-5, 14-16, 11-6, 11-7 to claim his first title on Tour.

Results: Colombia Squash Challenger 2
Final
[2] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt [1] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) 3-1: 11-5, 14-16, 11-6, 11-7 (60m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) bt [3] Andres Herrera (COL) 3-2: 10-12, 3-11, 15-13, 13-11, 11-8 (114m)
[2] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt [4] Felipe Tovar (COL) 3-1: 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 (45m)

Quarter-Finals
[1] Edgar Ramirez Bautista (COL) bt [5] Juan Jose Torres (COL) 3-0: 14-12, 11-9, 11-6 (45m)
[3] Andres Herrera (COL) bt [WC] Jose Santamaria (COL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 (25m)
[4] Felipe Tovar (COL) bt [WC] Joaquin Fernandez (COL) 3-1: 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9 (48m)
[2] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt [7] Nicolas Serna (COL) 3-1: 6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 (50m)

Round One
[WC] Jose Santamaria (COL) bt [6] Mateo Restrepo Pedroza (COL) 3-1: 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 11-5
[WC] Joaquin Fernandez (COL) bt [WC] Federico Torres (COL) 3-2: 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 10-12, 13-11
[7] Nicolas Serna (COL) bt [WC] Rodrigo Torres (COL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-6