16 Draw Tournament Page

RESULTS & Reports
Final
GLORY FOR GOLAN IN CALGARY Bob Ballinger reports from Calgary Spain's Borja Golan added to his recent run of success by winning the 2002 Talisman Energy Calgary Open at Bankers Hall Club in downtown Calgary. The unseeded Spaniard knocked off #2 seed Mark Heather of England 15/13, 13/15, 15/6, 17/16 in an entertaining and at times physical one hour and twenty minute match.
Semi-Finals
Bob Ballinger reports from Calgary Top seeded Ben Garner went down and out to unseeded Borja Golan Spain this afternoon in one hour and 22 minutes of fast paced action 17/14, 8/15, 15/10, 3/15, 15/13. In the other semi second seed Mark Heather of England secured a spot with Golan in the final after ending the run of qualifier Alister Walker of England 15/9, 10/15,15/9,15/5.
Quarter-Finals
Bob Ballinger reports from Calgary Friday's quarter final action at the 2002 Talisman Energy Calgary Open produced one mild upset, two that went according to the seedings, and one that was a disappointment to the local fans here at Bankers Hall Club in downtown Calgary. First match of the night saw the very in form Borja Golan of Spain take out Canada's #5 seed Ian Power 14/15, 15/3, 15/2, 15/3. After a great first game that saw Power stay with Golan all the way it was all Golan as he was just too fit for Power. The most anticipated match of the night had the former local and ex-Canadian national team member Jamie Crombie, who was into the tournament via a wildcard going against the young English qualifier Alister Walker. A great match for the packed house saw Walker take the match 15/13, 17/14,15/7. Second seed Mark Heather continued his strong play of this tournament by taking out Sweden's Christian Drakenberg 15/8,15/9,15/9. A wonderful final match of the night saw the top seed Ben garner take out the other young qualifier from England Peter barker in four great games by the scores of 7/15, 15/10, 15/11, 15/7.
First Round
CANADIANS CAUGHT OUT IN CALGARY Bob Ballinger reports from Calgary Well, the weather has warmed up to 17C here and so has the level of the matches. The bad news is that Canadian hopes have been put on hold for awhile as two of our young guns were knocked out by the top two seeds from England. Matthew Giuffre of Canada was on against No.2 seed Mark Heather of England and was unlucky to not take a game from his efficient moving opponent, going down 17-14, 15-9, 15-14 in 42 minutes. Canada's other young star, Shawn DeLierre, was not able to keep up with the consistent pace of top seed Ben Garner going down 15-10, 15-5, 15-9. On the other show court, the first upset of the tournament occurred with No.7 seed Mark Price of Australia going down to the very strong looking qualifier, Peter Barker of England by scores of 15-5, 15-12, 15-6. The other match of the lunchtime session saw Sweden's No.8 seed Christian Drakenburg wear down Spain's qualifier Constantino Casas 12-15, 15-2, 15-2, 15-6. Tonight the other 4 first round matches go with Canadian hopes resting on the shoulders of former national team member Jamie Crombie who is now living in Cincinnati and is in the event as the wild card. We are guaranteed a quarter final spot for Canada as Ian Power takes on Sabir Butt. SEEDS TAKE A BASHING IN SESSION TWO English qualifier Alister Walker was solid in his upset win over #3 seed Raj Nanda of Australia winning 15/12, 15/14, 15/6. The turning point may have Nanda's inability to close out a much needed second game after leading all the only to squander a 14/12 lead. In the third Walker took control by leading 8/2 and never let up. Next on was the much anticipated match featuring former Calgary resident and many times Canadian team member Jamie Crombie who is now living in Cincinnati going against #6 seed Ritwik Bhattacharya of India. Crombie dug himself a hole early in the first going down 8/4 with a lot of long rallies which also resulted in many let calls. Bhattacharya was able to keep this lead throughtout and closed out the first at 15/12. The second game was close all the way with alot of the same long rallies and lets as well with Crombie finally stringing together 3 straight points to win 15/12. The third went the same way as the second but this time the Bhattacharya was able to take it again 15/12. Momentum would have appeared to be on his side but maybe the familiar courts and faces in the crowd got Crombie off to a solid 9-3 lead in the fourth and he never let up en route to 15/11 win to take it to the fifth. Altitude may have been getting to both players in the fifth and again Crombie took early control going up by 3 points and maintaining the pace throughout to win the match 15/9 before a very thrilled audience in one hour and 25 minutes of play. Next up was the unseeded but very in form Borja Golan of Spain who has had some very impressive results over the last two months, taking on #4 seed Scott Fitzgerald of Wales. Golan continued his winning ways here with a comfortable 15/8, 15/2 15/7 win although Fitzgerald was noticeably still feeling the effects of an injury that occurred last week in the New York tournament. The final match of the night featured the last two Canadians going against each other with Ian Power playing Sabir Butt. An injury was also in play in this match unfortunately as Butt had to withdraw at the start of the fourth game after obviously not being able to move with his usual ease around the court. Power was happy to take the win 12/15, 15/9, 15/3, retired. So, it's onto the quarters tomorrow night here in Calgary with 4 matches going in the evening. The locals will be no doubt fired up to see if Jamie Crombie can keep it going ...
Qualifying
Calgary event under way Bob Ballinger reports from Calgary The second round of qualifying went according to the seeds, but there were some good matches. First match of the night had Canada's Shaun DeLierre take out Australia's Peter Hughes in a repeat match from New York last week. There DeLierre won in four after winning the first two and here in Calgary the same thing happened. DeLierre won the first game 15/10 and the took a tight second game 15/13. In the third Hughes went up 9/2 and then 10/6 only to have Shaun take control and go all the way to a 13-10 lead. Hughes hung in and took the game at 15-14. In the fourth game Shaun led most of the way at 8-4 and then 13-10. Hughes made a bit of a comeback but stalled at 14-13 and Shaun took it 15-13 in a long 95 minute match. After that it was all one sided matches ... Peter Barker was strong in his 15/5, 15/9, 15/3 win over Canada's Joe Forster; Spain's Constantino Casas held off Columbia's Juan Jose Jimenez by scores of 15/5, 15/7, 15/12; and England's Peter Barker beat the tournament host and Canadian 35+ National Champion Bob Ballinger 15/9, 15/9, 15/8. 1st Qualifying Round: Shawn Delierre (Can) bye Peter Hughes (Aus) bye Peter Barker (Eng) bye Joe Forster (Can) bt Eric Watson (Can) 15/10, 15/5, 15/5 Juan Jose Jiminez (Col) bt Michael Auer (Can) 13/15, 15/8, 13/15, 15/7, 15/10 Constantino Casas (Esp) bye Bob Ballinger (Can) bt AJ Janzic (Can) 11/15, 15/7, 15/10, 14/15, 15/7 Alister Walker (Eng) bye