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2002 Winner: Clive Leach
A British implant into the American Squash scene, he was a
top English softball player and this season has had success
in both softball singles and hardball doubles. First starting
playing doubles in November 2000, he has demonstrated an admirable
learning curve, picked up the doubles shots and seems more
comfortable than ever at this stage. In his first full season
on the ISDA professional doubles tour, Clive became the biggest
mover on the ISDA tour jumping from 21 at the end of last
season to his current co-number 7 position. Building upon
the partnership with Blair Horler that was founded last season,
they have earned the team rank of 4 team for 2001-2002. They
reached the semi finals of at least 12 of the 16 tournaments
they entered, more than any other team outside of the Waite
and Mudge partnership that won all 17 events this past season.
Appearances in the finals of the Tom Page Invitational in
Philadelphia, the Greenwich Open and the Worlds Open last
month in Toronto have provided stellar performances with closely
fought matches. Changing partners for the National Doubles,
Clive partnered with Eric Vlcek to reach the finals against
Waite and Clothier. This memorable match went the full distance
with the Waite/Clothier partnership ending up victors 15-12
in the fifth. Even though he has predominantly focused on
doubles hardball this season, Clive who has been ranked as
high as 26 on the PSA tour has also had success on the North
American softball tour. In five tough games, winning 15-7
in the fifth, he beat Brett Martin (a former world number
3) at the PSA/NA Hartford Golf Club Event in December having
bowed to Chris Walker in the finals in Los Angeles six months
earlier.
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