Coll Conquers Corren In Christchurch Climax
by Howard Harding

16 September 2013 - Youth prevailed over experience in the Doubledot Media Christchurch Boys High School Open in New Zealand where 21-year-old local hero Paul Coll upset 39-year-old top seed Mike Corren in the final of the PSA World Tour Challenger 5 squash event at Burnside Squash Club in Christchurch.

Corren, the indefatigable Australian who already has four Tour titles to his name this year, was celebrating the 68th final of his career just a week after winning the North Coast Open on home soil to cement his status as the oldest ever winner of a Tour title.

Indeed, the favourite opened up a two-game lead over Christchurch-based Coll and looked to be heading to a successful defence of the title.

But world No99 Coll, buoyed by packed partisan crowd, bounced back to win the third after saving two match-balls, then take the next two games to record a popular 6-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 triumph after 76 minutes.

It was sweet revenge for the rising New Zealand squash star (pictured above, right, with Corren) who was beaten by the world number 72 in the semi-finals of the City of Perth International Challenge earlier this year.

The win marks Coll's second Tour title success in his second final - but his maiden PSA triumph on home soil!

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Doubledot Media Christchurch Boys High School Open, Christchurch, New Zealand

1st round:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [Q] Adrian Leanza (USA) 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (28m)
Kashif Shuja (NZL) bt Matias Tuomi (FIN) 11-9, 13-15, 11-4, 11-4 (45m)
Lance James Beddoes (NZL) bt [Q] Pablo Rawden (ENG) 12-10, 11-2, 9-4 ret. (32m)
[4] Kevin Moran (SCO) bt [WC] Andrew Ellis (NZL) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (20m)
Douglas Kempsell (SCO) bt [3] James Huang (TPE) 11-8, 12-14, 11-6, 11-13, 11-6 (92m)
[Q] Jaakko Vahamaa (FIN) bt Wojtek Nowisz (POL) 13-11, 11-6, 11-8 (28m)
[Q] Ben Grindrod (NZL) bt Andrew Fraser (AUS) 11-8, 4-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-9 (71m)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA) 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 7-11, 11-7 (73m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt Kashif Shuja (NZL) 11-3, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7 (48m)
[4] Kevin Moran (SCO) bt Lance James Beddoes (NZL) 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 11-6 (45m)
Douglas Kempsell (SCO) bt [Q] Jaakko Vahamaa (FIN) 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 (36m)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [Q] Ben Grindrod (NZL) 11-4, 12-10, 11-9 (29m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [4] Kevin Moran (SCO) 11-8, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3 (38m)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Douglas Kempsell (SCO) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (41m)

Final:
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [1] Mike Corren (AUS) 6-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 (76m)