Corren
Coasts To North Coast Title
Australian veteran Mike Corren extended his remarkable record on
the PSA World Tour on home soil at the North Coast Open -
surviving an 87-minute battle against the world junior champion less
than half his age en-route to reaching his 67th final, then clinching
his 47th career title.
Just
five months short of his 40th birthday, Corren had his toughest task in
the second round of the PSA Challenger 5 squash event at Coffs
Harbour Squash Centre in Coffs Harbour, NSW, when he faced
qualifier Karim El Hammamy, the 17-year-old Egyptian who won the
world junior title in July.
The
Adelaide-based Aussie had to use all his experience to see off the
youthful challenge, beating El Hammamy 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5.
Corren
progressed to take out Thoboki Mohohlo, the No7 seed from South
Africa, in the quarter-finals, then fellow countryman Joshua Larkin,
the fourth seed, in the semis.
The
event favourite faced second seed Greg Lobban in the final - and
needed only 35 minutes to subdue the Scot 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 to extend his
record as the oldest winner of a PSA Tour title.
"I
think this weekend was indicative of why I still play the game," said
Corren after his latest triumph, his fourth of the year. "Firstly, to
have the opportunity to bounce back from a very troubled previous event
is always a great challenge. Secondly to have to play against the
current World Junior Champion who I have a 22 year lead on in the race
for the retirement home was a fantastic opportunity.
"It
was also a good reminder that the principles of line and length still
have a place in this game!
"Last,
but certainly not least, to have Rod Eyles in my coaching corner is
worth a half dozen points per game! Rod was a legend as a player and his
coaching abilities are heading in the same direction. A massive
co-factor was having my good mate and one of the best exercise
physiologists in Australia with me for the weekend Dr Leon Musca.
"The
combination of Rod and Leon makes me feel 33 again!
"Overall I just feel privileged to be still playing the game -
tournament wins/numbers do not matter," concluded the world No72. "It is
just the chance to be involved in this great game that is the positive!"
1st
round:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt T J Rarere (AUS) 11-4, 11-1, 11-3
[Q] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bt Jamie Henderson (SCO) 11-7,
11-8, 11-6
Thomas Calvert (AUS) bt [Q] Alex Eustace (AUS) 11-7, 11-4,
11-1
[7] Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA) bt SeungYong Yoo (KOR) 11-7,
12-10, 8-11, 11-5
[6] Nathan Stevenson (AUS) bt [WC] Joel Luca (AUS) 11-3,
11-8, 11-3
[LL] Daniel Condie (AUS) bt [Q] Tim Delport (AUS) 11-0,
11-1, 11-4
SungYoung Kim (KOR) bt [Q] Richard King (ENG) 11-9, 11-9,
11-8
[4] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt [Q] Daniel Karwalski (AUS)
11-8, 11-4, 11-4
[3] Kevin Moran (SCO) bt [Q] David Crossley (AUS) 11-8,
11-8, 11-8
[Q] Michael Bolton (AUS) bt Aidan Parkes (AUS) 6-11, 11-8,
11-3, 11-2
[Q] Chi Him Wong (HKG) bt TJ French (AUS) 11-8, 11-1, 11-5
[8] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt Andrew Fraser (AUS) 11-5, 1-11,
11-8, 4-11, 11-7
[5] Sunil Seth (GUY) bt Darcy Evans (AUS) 11-4, 6-11,
10-12, 11-5, 11-8
Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) bt Courtney West (AUS) 11-3, 11-3 ret.
Joshua Stack-Masula (AUS) bt Dominic Benacquista (AUS)
11-9 ret.
[2] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt James Skiffington (NZL) 11-6,
11-7, 11-3
2nd round:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [Q] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 11-9,
10-12, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5 (87m)
[7] Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA) bt Thomas Calvert (AUS) 11-7,
11-2, 11-6
[6] Nathan Stevenson (AUS) bt [LL] Daniel Condie (AUS)
11-4, 11-2, 11-5
[4] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt SungYoung Kim (KOR) 11-8, 11-8,
11-4
[3] Kevin Moran (SCO) bt [Q] Michael Bolton (AUS) 7-11,
12-10, 11-7, 11-6
[8] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt [Q] Chi Him Wong (HKG) 17-15,
11-6, 4-11, 11-4
Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) bt [5] Sunil Seth (GUY) 11-7, 11-6,
11-4
[2] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Joshua Stack-Masula (AUS) 11-4,
11-2, 11-0
Quarter-finals:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [7] Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA) 11-6,
8-11, 11-2, 11-5 (41m)
[4] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt [6] Nathan Stevenson (AUS)
12-10, 11-3, 11-4 (30m)
[3] Kevin Moran (SCO) bt [8] Rhys Dowling (AUS) 11-7,
9-11, 11-2, 11-6 (44m)
[2] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) 11-8, 9-11,
15-17, 11-6, 11-9 (104m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [4] Joshua Larkin (AUS) 11-8,
11-3, 11-6 (31m)
[2] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt [3] Kevin Moran (SCO) 11-8, 11-6,
8-11, 11-5 (65m)
Final:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [2] Greg Lobban (SCO) 11-5, 11-4,
11-9 (35m)
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