Individual Handicap Singles

Post date: Mar 22, 2017 6:16:25 PM

Dan Collenette went home with the GTTA Individual Handicap Singles trophy on Monday evening after a narrow 2-1 victory over Lawrence Stacey in the final.  In a see-saw match, the 15-year old was handed a +7 advantage and won 21-14, 16-21, 21-18. The match featured some excellent attacking play and one of the best rallies seen at the Hougue du Pommier for quite some time to seal the title.

A decent entry of 34 players of different abilities started the night in the group stages, which provided many close matches and left the organisers dealing with the mathematical challenges that come with the countback system.  The knockout stages were largely dominated by Division 1 players, with the exception of 2nd Division Dave Finn who was in top form and looking a dangerous opponent.  Indeed Finn looked likely to progress to the final as he swept past Collenette in the first game of their semi-final 21-5.  The younger player was left scampering round the court trying to defend Finn's combination of side-spin and angled returns.  However Collenette managed to regroup and change his tactics to good effect and won the next two ends 21-18, 21-16.

In the other semi-final, Ben Foss was looking likely to make yet another tournament final this season, but was ultimately pipped 21-18 in the deciding end by Lawrence Stacey.