Top-Seed Illingworth Wins PSA Challenger Event In Florida
by Howard Harding
17 December 2012 - Julian Illingworth, the sole US entrant in the main draw of the Betty F Griffin Memorial Florida State Open, produced the perfect home result by winning the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event at the Lifetime Athletic Club in Boca Raton, USA.
The top-seeded 28-year-old from New York reached the 19th Tour final of his career when he beat unseeded South African Clinton Leeuw in the semi-finals.
In the other semi, fourth-seeded Welshman Peter Creed denied 2010 champion Alfredo Avila a second appearance in the final after coming through a 61-minute five-game marathon against the 21-year-old Mexican.
The final was one of the longest matches of the championship, but record eight-time US champion Illingworth edged through to beat Welsh champion Creed - celebrating his fourth final of the year - 11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6 in 70 minutes.
The triumph marks the ninth Tour title of Illingworth's career - but his fourth this year.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 Betty F Griffin Memorial Florida State Open, Boca Raton, USA
Quarter-finals:
[1] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Erik Tepos Valtierra (MEX) 12-10, 8-11, 11-4, 11-8 (54m)
Clinton Leeuw (RSA) bt [3] Yasir Ali Butt (PAK) 11-5, 11-2, 12-10 (39m)
[4] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Scott Arnold (AUS) 11-4, 7-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8 (70m)
Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [2] Shawn Delierre (CAN) 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 4-11, 11-5 (89m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt Clinton Leeuw (RSA) 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 12-10
[4] Peter Creed (WAL) bt Alfredo Avila (MEX) 13-11, 5-11, 12-10, 4-11, 11-5 (61m)
Final:
[1] Julian Illingworth (USA) bt [4] Peter Creed (WAL) 11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6 (70m)
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