US Masters Championships
Atlanta travels well… Gough captures 70+ National Title

SESRA was well represented at the National Masters Championships last weekend and showed the strength of squash in the southeast. Here are the flash results.
In the 70s, recently graduated veteran Michael Gough defeated John Horan and Edward Burlingame before taking the national title over Vincent Taylor in a very long five-gamer: (10),8,9,(8), 10. Well done, Michael!

In the 55s, the luck of the draw pitted Tom Rumpler against Michael Kilgallon in the quarters, with Tom coming out on top 3-1. In the semis, Tom faced longtime rival Christopher Burrows, who stopped the defending champ in three: 4,9,10. Michael went on to battle Philly’s Fred Clement in the finals of the plate, losing in four: (4),5,9,6. Alladin Mitha took his first match but fell to Rashid Aziz in the quarters: 2,9,4 and the aforementioned Clement in the plate in four.
In the 50s, Eben Hardie hammered his way through 2 rounds, then fell to Canadian champ Michael Bertin in the semis in five: (6),9,9,(14),8. Bertin repeated as U.S. age group champ, taking Eric Dunn in four.

In the 45s, Charleston’s Richard Millman came second to a rehabilitated Dominic Hughes (who tore an Achilles in last year’s Atlanta final against Diniar): 6,4,(5),7.
In the 40s, Andre Maur had two pitched battles deep into the draw, falling to eventual finalist John Musto in five: (9),(7), 4,5,8. Then, in the 3-4 slot, Andre battled back after losing the first two against David Sly, but fell short in the fifth: 9,11,(10),(9),2. Musto also put out longtime Atlanta friend Adam Walker in the quarters.

In the 35s, former Atlanta pro Chris Lang reached the quarters before falling to former two time champ and 2009 finalist Mick Joint.

In the closed national champs, Julian Illingworth took his record fifth title, defeated Gilly Lane, and Natalie Grainger captured her third consecutive title over Latasha Khan.

Michael Goff

Andre Maur