RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5Maggie Beer South Australian Open
Tanunda, Australia
Potgieter
Powers To Tour Title Debut In Australia
#PSAWorldTour
South Africa's
Christo Potgieter
became one of the lowest-ranked players to win a PSA World Tour
squash title when he upset local hero and top seed Mike Corren
in the final of the Maggie Beer South Australian Open
to claim the maiden Tour trophy of his career.
The 27-year-old World No.275 – playing in only the 12th Tour event
of his life – came into the PSA Challenger 5
event at Rex Barossa Aquatic Fitness
in Tanunda
unseeded – then downed the eighth, third and second seeds before
lining up against South Australian favourite Mike Corren, the
40-year-old from Adelaide who made his own mark in squash history
last week when he clinched the 50th Tour title of his illustrious
career.
It was Corren, ranked 76 in the world, who took the early initiative
– soon building up a two-game lead.
But underdog Potgieter (pictured below, left, with
Corren)
powered back to take the next three to record his breakthrough
11-13, 7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-9 victory after 74 minutes.
"Christo certainly lit up the tournament with his trickery and great
sense of humour," said tournament organiser Grant Norman. "He paid
tribute to Corren and his 50 titles."
Defending champion Corren – a three-time South Australian Open
champion since 2008 – conceded later: "There's something about this
particular event that places a lot of pressure on me."