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The 2002 New York Open Squash Championships was held the
weekend of December 6th at The Printing House Fitness And
Racquet Club in lower Manhattan with over 95 participants
competing in 8 different divisions.
The Women's C draw turned best friends in to bitter rivals
as Marian Gambrell held off practice partner Nola Bonis 3-1.
The Women's B title went to young Minood Fadaifard whose classic
strokes were a bit too much for the always feisty, Yvonne
Lodders, also 3 games to 1.
On the Men's side, Kevin Pratt captured the D division, 3-0,
over Don "who
says you can't hit two fore-hands?" Lang. Laurence Goff
sent Leon Ferguson back home 3-0 in the C final while Didier
Faur fulfilled his B division
dreams with a 3-1 final round victory over Jim Coddington.
Bruce Gordon was unfazed by the gamesmanship of Joel Roodman
in the B+ final, 3 games to 1 as well. Joe Lubin simply proved
too strong and steady for Yahaya Nauzo taking the Limited
A's 3-0.
The most interesting final came last as Hugh Evans met Will
Carlin for the
first time in the A division. After taking a 2 games to love
lead, Evans
seemed to have things in hand. But the ever competitive Carlin
stepped it up to force a third game tie-breaker. Players then
traded several game and
match balls. The drama ended abruptly however as a point saving
dive sent
Carlin into the side wall so severely that he was unable to
lift his arm for
the final point.
An unfortunate yet somehow oddly appropriate end to a terrific
weekend of New York City squash.
Chris Widney (On-site Tournament Director)
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