Corren Coasts To North Coast PSA Title by Howard Harding 9 September 2013
- Australian veteran Mike Corren extended his remarkable record on the
PSA World Tour on home soil at the North Coast Open - surviving an
87-minute battle against the world junior champion less than half his
age en-route to reaching his 67th final, then clinching his 47th career
title.
Just five months short
of his 40th birthday, Corren had his toughest task in the second round
of the PSA Challenger 5 squash event at Coffs Harbour Squash Centre in
Coffs Harbour, NSW, when he faced qualifier Karim El Hammamy, the
17-year-old Egyptian who won the world junior title in July.
The Adelaide-based
Aussie had to use all his experience to see off the youthful challenge,
beating El Hammamy 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5.
Corren progressed to
take out Thoboki Mohohlo, the No7 seed from South Africa, in the
quarter-finals, then fellow countryman Joshua Larkin, the fourth seed,
in the semis.
The event favourite
faced second seed Greg Lobban in the final - and needed only 35 minutes
to subdue the Scot 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 to extend his record as the oldest
winner of a PSA Tour title.
"I think this weekend
was indicative of why I still play the game," said Corren after his
latest triumph, his fourth of the year. "Firstly, to have the
opportunity to bounce back from a very troubled previous event is
always a great challenge. Secondly to have to play against the current
World Junior Champion who I have a 22 year lead on in the race for the
retirement home was a fantastic opportunity.
"It was also a good reminder that the principles of line and length still have a place in this game!
"Last, but certainly
not least, to have Rod Eyles in my coaching corner is worth a half
dozen points per game! Rod was a legend as a player and his coaching
abilities are heading in the same direction. A massive co-factor was
having my good mate and one of the best exercise physiologists in
Australia with me for the weekend Dr Leon Musca.
"The combination of Rod and Leon makes me feel 33 again!
"Overall I just feel
privileged to be still playing the game - tournament wins/numbers do
not matter," concluded the world No72. "It is just the chance to be
involved in this great game that is the positive!"
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 North Coast Open, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
1st round: [1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt T J Rarere (AUS) 11-4, 11-1, 11-3 [Q] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bt Jamie Henderson (SCO) 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 Thomas Calvert (AUS) bt [Q] Alex Eustace (AUS) 11-7, 11-4, 11-1 [7] Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA) bt SeungYong Yoo (KOR) 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5 [6] Nathan Stevenson (AUS) bt [WC] Joel Luca (AUS) 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 [LL] Daniel Condie (AUS) bt [Q] Tim Delport (AUS) 11-0, 11-1, 11-4 SungYoung Kim (KOR) bt [Q] Richard King (ENG) 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 [4] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt [Q] Daniel Karwalski (AUS) 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 [3] Kevin Moran (SCO) bt [Q] David Crossley (AUS) 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 [Q] Michael Bolton (AUS) bt Aidan Parkes (AUS) 6-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 [Q] Chi Him Wong (HKG) bt TJ French (AUS) 11-8, 11-1, 11-5 [8] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt Andrew Fraser (AUS) 11-5, 1-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7 [5] Sunil Seth (GUY) bt Darcy Evans (AUS) 11-4, 6-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-8 Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) bt Courtney West (AUS) 11-3, 11-3 ret. Joshua Stack-Masula (AUS) bt Dominic Benacquista (AUS) 11-9 ret. [2] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt James Skiffington (NZL) 11-6, 11-7, 11-3
2nd round: [1] Mike Corren (AUS) bt [Q] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 11-9, 10-12, 11-9, 6-11, 11-5 (87m) [7] Thoboki Mohohlo (RSA) bt Thomas Calvert (AUS) 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 [6] Nathan Stevenson (AUS) bt [LL] Daniel Condie (AUS) 11-4, 11-2, 11-5 [4] Joshua Larkin (AUS) bt SungYoung Kim (KOR) 11-8, 11-8, 11-4 [3] Kevin Moran (SCO) bt [Q] Michael Bolton (AUS) 7-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-6 [8] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt [Q] Chi Him Wong (HKG) 17-15, 11-6, 4-11, 11-4 Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) bt [5] Sunil Seth (GUY) 11-7, 11-6, 11-4 [2] Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Joshua Stack-Masula (AUS) 11-4, 11-2, 11-0
