IRT - Kentucky Open Qualifiers Determined

The qualifying draw for this weekend's International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Kentucky Open in Bowling Green is complete, and there were two upsets, although perhaps only one of them was really an upset. One because Cliff Swain's IRT ranking of 34 is probably lower than the former number 1 player should be, so when he defeats a player seeded slightly higher than him, it isn't a complete surprise.

That's what Swain did Thursday, as he defeated Anthony Herrera, 11-0, 11-4, 11-6, to qualify for the main draw of 16 in Kentucky. He'll face Jack Huczek on Friday.

Agustin Tristan was the other player upsetting a higher seed, as he took out the top ranked qualifier Andy Hawthorne, 11-9, 11-9, 2-11, 11-8, to get into the weekend's main draw. To give Tristan his due, his ranking at 145 is perhaps even less reflective of his past accomplishments than Swain's ranking. Tristan has twice been a quarter finalist, but did not play any IRT tournaments last season which explains his low ranking.

Tristan was also an outstanding collegiate player at the University of Alabama, finishing second to Ben Croft at the 2006 Intercollegiate Championships.

Perhaps somewhat surprising to us at The Racquetball Blog was Brian Simpson's loss to Rafael Filippini, although that wasn't an upset as Filippini's ranking at 27 is higher than Simpson's 33. Their match was close. It went the full five games, and seems that game three was the turn, as Simpson had decisive wins in the first two games, but Filippini won a close game three and went on to comfortably win games four and five, taking the match 2-11, 1-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4.

Qualifying : First Round (IRT ranking)

Agustin Tristan (145) d. Alex Ackermann (143), 11-5, 11-8, 11-5
John Scott (128) d. Gene Scott (302), 11-6, 11-8, 11-13, 11-5

Qualifying : Second Round (IRT ranking)

Q1: Agustin Tristan (145) d. Andy Hawthorne (10), 11-9, 11-9, 2-11, 11-8
Q2: Juan Herrera (11) d. John Scott (128), 8-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-2
Q3: Hiroshi Shimizu (12) d. Clint Wolff (127), 11-2, 11-2, 11-2
Q4: Alejandro Herrera (13) d. Gared Edmunds (111), 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-2
Q5: Kane Waselenchuk (14) d. Danny Lavely (100), 11-2, 11-2, 11-4
Q6: Travis Woodbury (18) d. Daniel Case (43), 11-1, 11-3, 11-13, 11-5
Q7: Cliff Swain (34) d. Anthony Herrera (21), 11-0, 11-4, 11-6
Q8: Rafael Filippini (27) d. Brian Simpson (33), 2-11, 1-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-4

That brings us to the main draw, which we are a little confused about. Here's what's posted on the IRT web site.

Main Draw (IRT ranking)

(1) Rocky Carson vs. Rafael Filippini (27)
(7) Ben Croft vs. Agustin Tristan (145)

(8) Chris Crowther vs. Alejandro Herrera (13)
(5) Shane Vanderson vs. Kane Waselenchuk (14)

(4) Alvaro Beltran vs. Travis Woodbury (18)
(9) Jason Thoerner vs. Hiroshi Shimizu (12)

(6) Mitch Williams vs. Juan Herrera (11)
(2) Jack Huczek vs. Cliff Swain (34)

Our confusion is about the placings of Chris Crowther and Jason Thoerner, who seem to be seeded higher than Mitch Williams and Ben Croft, despite the fact that Williams and Croft are higher ranked than Crowther and Thoerner. We tried to contact Dave Negrete, IRT Commissioner, today to clarify this, but didn't reach him.

Thus, that's the draw as it now is (now being late Thursday night), but if Friday's matches are different from this, don't be surprised.

Follow the bouncing ball....