Major pro SA Open Squash Tournament Fri-Sun. Locals Ben Grindrod (left) and Jamie Oakley are competing.
Major pro SA Open Squash Tournament Fri-Sun. Locals Ben Grindrod (left) and Jamie Oakley are competing.
Tauranga's Jamie Oakley, 18, of the Devoy Squash & Fitness Centre caused a huge upset on day one of the Pak'n'Save Tauranga PSA & Open Tournament underway in Tauranga.
Oakley in his first PSA tournament was the wildcard entry into the PSA draw after winning the NZ Junior Openlast weekend.
He was pitted against his coach and highly experienced and national High Performance programme manager Kashif Shuja (seeded 6).
This was a much anticipated match drawing a full grandstand to the Carrus Glass Court in the Tauranga Boys' College gym on Friday night.
Oakley struck first in the match taking the early lead and he looked in total control causing Shuja all sorts of trouble with his defining backhand drops and excellent shot selection.
Oakley claimed the first game 11/6 stunning the higher seeded Shuja. Oakley came out in game two and again took control to win 11/7. In a high intensity third game encounter, Oakley denied Shuja the opportunity to play his renowned shots as Oakley continued to put the pressure on and force Shuja's errors.
Oakley took the ball early to gain points at the front of the court and eventually he sealed the match in three.
In other games, Adam Murrills (England) played Vivian Rhamanan (Singapore). Both players were keen to stamp their dominance on the game early, however, it was Murrills who stormed ahead in a confident start to his PSA tournament. With Murrills quick racket speed, Rhamanan was left scrambling in the first game losing 11/6.
The second game saw Rhamanan find his rhythm with some exceptional squash on display with perfect placement of drop shops, lobs and tight tram line play. Murrills clinched the second game in a tight 11/9. In the third, Murrills kicked into a higher gear, denying Rhamanan any chance of getting back into the match taking the game in a comfortable 11/4. The only Korean player to qualify for the championship draw, Han Seung Cheol was up against Joe Green of England.
Green took the first game 11/3. It was a squash masterclass from Green as Cheol appeared to struggle with the pace of the game. In the second game, Cheol found his form and continued with good front court drop shots but he was unable to draw level with Green extending his lead.
A lapse of concentration from Green saw Cheol take the third game 11/8 before Green stormed home to take the fourth game and the match in a convincing display 11/2. Tauranga's fourth seed Ben Grindrod, Evan Williams, Lance Beddoes and Dylan Cunningham never looked phased in their matches and they all took their games in three to proceed to the quarter-finals.
Full results from round 1 can be found on the PSA website https://psaworldtour.com/tournaments/view/6360?tab=mens-main
Games begin on the Carrus Glass Court in the Tauranga Boys' College at 11.30am today.
Finals are set down for 1pm (women's) and 2pm (men's) on Sunday.
Saturday schedule (quarter finals): 11.30am Adam Murrills (Eng) vs Rhys Dowling (Aus) 12.15pm Jamie Oakley (NZ) vs Lance Beddoes (NZ) 1pm Joe Green (Eng) vs Ben Grindrod (NZ) 1.45pm Evan Williams (NZ) vs Dylan Cunningham (USA)
