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Bourbon Trail #1 2019
03-05 Jan, Chatanooga, USA, $5k |
Khan
wins Bourbon Trail Opener
Richard Millman reports
In a wonderful, barnstorming final tonight at Scenic City Squash
in Chattanooga Tennessee in the USA, US professional Faraz Khan
overcame the determined, stylish and youthful challenge of
Princeton University’s talented freshman Cole Becker, to win his
first ever PSA title.
Becker did everything bar actually win the match. He had a match
ball in the fifth.
He stormed out of the gate in the first game, firing on all
cylinders with his clinical straight attacking volleys.
Faraz came back tenaciously, covering the court with remarkable
athleticism and exacting a physical toll on the Princeton
University athlete with twisting turning boasts, cross courts
and particularly his backhand straight drop.
Khan took the second and there was some indication that Becker
was reeling physically and losing his immaculate fundamentals
and control.
However in the third Becker steeled himself and, with good
mental discipline came back strongly with pinpointedly accurate
straight drop volleys and equally deft counter-drops. This was a
game of longer debilitating rallies.
At 2-1 down, the nervous calm appeared to have wobbled, but he
similarly buckled down and punished Becker in the fourth, with
the young college player making a number of uncharacteristic
errors and almost capitulating at the end of the fourth.
Any thought that the fifth would be plain sailing for Khan was
quickly dismissed as Becker was rampant at the beginning of the
fifth, racing to an 8-3 lead. This included some self
destruction by Khan as he attempted to have referee Harvey
Miller win points for him and became sidetracked whining about
decisions.
However to the Connecticut man’s credit, after some clear
direction to focus on playing and to let the ref make the
decisions, Khan set about a remarkable comeback.
He played several gritty, long, all court rallies, moving his
opponent and winding him.
Having got in hand Faraz came all the way back to 8-8.
Becker then came alive with one of his classic straight short
volleys to go up 9-8.
The next few rallies were a free for all of attack and desperate
defense taking the game to 10 - 9 match ball to Becker.
Again Khan dug in, penetrating the deep back court to hurt the
Princeton man and saving match ball before Becker found a second
wind to earn a second match ball with a completely unexpected
wrong footing disguise shot.
At 11-10 down it looked as though Faraz’s dream might be over,
but no .... again he drove the ball deep and this time Becker
finally broke - sending two balls to the tin.
Thus Faraz Khan won his first ever PSA title 13-11 in the fifth
- as good a final as you will see at this level of the game.
Many thanks to all our sponsors and members who made the event
possible.
We look forward to the $6K PSA Bourbon Trail Event No 2 in a
couple of weeks time at Scenic City Squash in conjunction with
The Burns Night Open - Jan 23-26.
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Bourbon Trail #1 2019
03-05 Jan, Chatanooga, USA, $5k |
Round One
03 Jan |
Quarters
03 Jan |
Semis
04 Jan |
Final
05 Jan |
[2] Faraz Khan (Usa)
10/12, 11/9, 11/13, 11/7, 11/9
Timothy Brownell (Usa) |
[2] Faraz Khan
11/7, 11/1, 11/2
[8] Kashif Asif |
[2] Faraz Khan 9/11, 11/9, 11/3, 11/6
[5] Syed Hamzah Bukhari |
[2] Faraz Khan
8/11, 11/6, 7/11, 11/3, 13/11
Cole Becker |
[8]
Kashif Asif (Pak)
11/5, 12/10, 11/3
Richard Millman (Eng) |
[5] Syed Hamzah Bukhari (Pak)
11/6, 11/5, 12/10
William Heredn (Eng) |
[5] Syed Hamzah Bukhari
11/6, 11/8, 11/8
[3] Edgar Ramirez |
[3] Edgar Ramirez (Col)
11/5, 11/2, 11/5
Gabriel Bassil (Usa) |
Gabriel Bassil (Usa)
11/5, 11/5, 11/4
[4] Spencer Lovejoy (Usa) |
[4] Spencer Lovejoy
11/3, 11/6, 11/3
[7] Cory McCartney |
[4] Spencer Lovejoy
11/9, 10/12, 11/9, 11/4
Cole Becker |
Jason Hua (Usa)
4/11, 11/7, 11/5, 11/4
[7] Cory McCartney (Can) |
Muhammad Abdul Qadir (Pak)
11/6, 7/11, 11/8, 11/5
[6] Lewis Doughty (Eng) |
[6] Lewis Doughty
11/3, 12/10, 3/11, 11/3
Cole Becker |
Cole Becker (Usa)
8/11, 11/1, 11/7, 11/5
[1] David Baillargeon (Can) |
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