 Christchurch Casino Canterbury and South Island Open
Christchurch, New Zealand
By Gary Denvir, Squash New Zealand
Local favourite Martin Knight clinched the South Island Championship title when he beat fellow New Zealander Graeme Wilson in the final of the PSA Tour Satellite squash event in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The 24-year-old top seed from Auckland despatched second seed Wilson, from Wellington, 11-0, 11-6, 11-6.
The success marked the world number 98's second PSA Tour title this year, after he also won April's Barossa Valley Open in South Australia.
It was Knight's fourth Tour final appearance, but the first for his second-seeded opponent.
1st round:
[1] Martin Knight (NZL) bt [Q] Tim Williams (NZL) 11-5, 11-2, 11-7
[8] Dane Sharp (CAN) bt [Q] Steven Wren (NZL) 12-10, 11-5, 11-9
Scott Gardiner (NZL) bt [3] Nathan Turnbull (AUS) 11-6, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7
[6] Evan Williams (NZL) bt [Q] Greg Johnston (NZL) 11-1, 11-3, 11-4
[7] Cameron Jamieson (NZL) bt Keegan Burkhart (NZL) 11-7, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7
Lui Syder (NZL) bt [4] Jacob Lohrisch (AUS) 11-9, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8
Alex Grayson (NZL) bt [5] Josh Cardwell (AUS) 11-9, 10-12, 11-6, 11-8
[2] Graeme Wilson (NZL) bt [Q] Grant Craig (NZL) 11-6, 11-3, 11-4
Quarter-finals:
[1] Martin Knight (NZL) bt [8] Dane Sharp (CAN) 11-6, 11-9, 11-7
[6] Evan Williams (NZL) bt Scott Gardiner (NZL) 11-7, 5-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-9
[7] Cameron Jamieson (NZL) bt Lui Syder (NZL) 11-5, 11-7, 12-10
[2] Graeme Wilson (NZL) bt Alex Grayson (NZL) 11-3, 11-4, 11-4
Semi-finals:
[1] Martin Knight (NZL) bt [6] Evan Williams (NZL) 11-3, 11-3, 11-9
[2] Graeme Wilson (NZL) bt [7] Cameron Jamieson (NZL) 11-4, 12-10, 11-7
Final:
[1] Martin Knight (NZL) bt [2] Graeme Wilson (NZL) 11-0, 11-6, 11-6
Knight & Wilson in Final at Christchurch
The top two seeds are through to the final of the Christchurch Casino Canterbury and South Island Open, on the PSA men's world squash tour.
New Zealand's Martin Knight and Graeme Wilson will square off in the title decider, after avoiding the early round carnage that saw three of the top five seeds bow out on day one.
Knight's experience proved the difference as he earned his place in the final with a straightforward 11/3 11/3 11/9 victory over sixth seeded youngster Evan Williams. Wilson's maturity was also a factor as he swept to a 11/4 12/10 11/7 win over seventh seed Cameron Jamieson.
However, the experience of making it through to semifinals should serve Evan Williams and Cameron Jamieson well, when they head off to represent New Zealand at the upcoming World Junior Men's Squash Championships in Switzerland.
In the women's local draw, top seed Shayle Higginson cruised into the final with a 9/3 9/3 9/6 win over Ann Harliwich. Higginson will face surprise package Megan Craig in the title decider, after the 15-year-old thrashed Erin Dippie 9/5 9/1 9/1 in the other semifinal.
Results...
Men's PSA draw
1. Martin Knight (NZL) def 6. Evan Williams (NZL) 11/3 11/3 11/9
2. Graeme Wilson (NZL) def 7. Cameron Jamieson (NZL) 11/4 12/10 11/7
Women's local draw
1. Shayle Higginson (NZL) def Ann Harliwich (NZL) 9/3 9/3 9/6
Megan Craig (NZL) def Erin Dippie (NZL) 9/5 9/1 9/1
Day Two
Normal service has resumed on day two of the Christchurch Casino Canterbury and South Island Open, on the PSA men's squash tour. After a raft of upsets on day one, the second round has delivered a more predictable winning line-up, with the remaining seeded players all safely through to the semifinals.
Top seed Martin Knight has led the charge into the last four, although his quarterfinal victory over Canadian Dane Sharp was anything but straightforward. In fact, Knight's straight games win took the same amount of time as sixth seed Evan Williams needed to dispatch of Canterbury's Scott Gardiner in five.
Second seed Graeme Wilson was more convincing in a 11/3 11/4 11/4 win over fellow kiwi Alex Grayson while seventh seeded Cameron Jamieson was also a straight games winner in his all-kiwi encounter against Lui Syder, although he was pushed to 12/10 in the third.
In the women's local draw, top seed Shayle Higginson has cruised into the semifinals with a 3/0 win over Katie Douglas, but the other three matches all ended in upsets.
Second seed Karen Walton slumped to a 3/0 defeat to rising junior star Megan Craig, third seed Mickayla Kerr also lost 3/0 to Erin Dippie and fourth seed Katrina Palmer continued the trend with a 3/0 loss to Ann Harliwich.
Results...
Men's PSA Draw
1. Martin Knight (NZL) def 8. Dane Sharp (CAN) 11/6 11/9 11/7
6. Evan Williams (NZL) def Scott Gardiner (NZL) 11/7 5/11 10/12 12/10 11/9
7. Cameron Jamieson (NZL) def Lui Syder (NZL) 11/5 11/7 12/10
2. Graeme Wilson (NZL) def Alex Grayson (NZL) 11/3 11/4 11/4
Women's non-tour Draw
1. Shayle Higginson (NZL) def Katie Douglas (NZL) 3/0
Ann Harliwich (NZL) def 4. Katrina Palmer (NZL) 3/0
Erin Dippie (NZL) def Mickayla Kerr (NZL) 3/0
Megan Craig (NZL) def 2. Karen Walton (NZL) 3/0
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