Anvari Dethrones Park in the Howard Davis Memorial, Hardball Nationals Loom! By Paul T. Chan
photo Paul Chan
January 24, 2018
– The Howard Davis Memorial Hardball Tournament--honoring the former US
Squash President--was held this past weekend at the Greate Bay Tennis
and Racquet Club in Somers Point, New Jersey.
Two SDA touring pros
fought it out in the finals of the Open Division. Hamed Anvari of
New York bested last year’s champion, Greg Park, to capture first place
prize money.
The Open final was
played at a blistering pace, as could be expected in hardball.
The rallies were long and intense, despite playing on the wide
courts. In front of a packed and enthralled house, Anvari’s court
sense and power helped him prevail 15-13 in the fifth. Everyone
was treated to a tremendous display of great hardball squash.
At the Champion’s
Dinner that evening, Anvari said, “The points were amazing, with the
fast pace of the ball challenging the reflexes and creating
split-second shotmaking decisions. And singles hardball is a
great way to improve your doubles play!”
In the Senior
Division, Tefft Smith of Washington, D.C., beat Gary Yaeger of
Philadelphia (both many-time national hardball age group champions),
15-12 in the fifth. Yaeger had defeated tournament director Paul
Chan of Atlantic City in the semifinals earlier.
HARDBALL UPDATE:
The Tournament used
the new white dot high altitude doubles ball. U.S. Squash and the
Hardball Committee, in conjunction with Dunlop Sports, has commissioned
a new ball designed specially to play hardball singles on the
international courts. The new ball should be available in
April.
REMINDER:
The Hardball Circuit ends with the Hardball Nationals on February 23rd – 25th at the Harvard Club in New York City.
NEW EVENT!:
A new tournament has
been added to the hardball circuit. The University of North
Carolina Collegiate Hardball Tournament will be held in Chapel Hill,
North Carolina on March 23rd – 25th. 48 collegiate players are
expected, along with Open and Age Group divisions. Go to:
US.Squash.com to sign up!
