IRT Kentucky Open Qualifying Draw - Possibly

There are 19 players in the qualifying draw for this week's International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Kentucky Open in Bowling Green. Based on the latest IRT rankings, The Racquetball Blog has done up the qualifying draw - unofficially, of course. There's one notable match up. Check it out.

First Round (IRT ranking)

Alex Ackermann (143) vs. Clint Wolff (127)
John Scott (128) vs. Agustin Tristan (145)
Gared Edmunds (111) vs. Gene Scott (302)

Second Round (IRT ranking)

Q1: Jason Thoerner (9) vs. winner of Alex Ackermann (143) vs. Clint Wolff (127)
Q2: Andy Hawthorne (10) vs. winner of John Scott (128) vs. Agustin Tristan (145)
Q3: Juan Herrera (11) vs. winner of Gared Edmunds (111) vs. Gene Scott (302)
Q4: Hiroshi Shimizu (12) vs. Danny Lavely (100)
Q5: Alejandro Herrera (13) vs. Daniel Case (43)
Q6: Kane Waselenchuk (14) vs. Cliff Swain (34)
Q7: Travis Woodbury (18) vs. Brian Simpson (33)
Q8: Anthony Herrera (21) vs. Rafael Filippini (27)

Yes, dear Readers, it seems that Kane Waselenchuk will face Cliff Swain in an all lefty confrontation. Moreover, look who they play into.

Main Draw

(1) Rocky Carson vs. Q8
(8) Chris Crowther vs. Q1

(5) Shane Vanderson vs. Q4
(4) Alvaro Beltran vs. Q5

(3) Jason Mannino vs. Q6
(6) Mitch Williams vs. Q3

(7) Ben Croft vs. Q2
(2) Jack Huczek vs. Q7

So, Jason Mannino may get his first match against Waselenchuk since Waselenchuk's returned from his two year suspension.

The other match of note in the qualifying round is Travis Woodbury, who hasn't got himself into the main draw in two tries this season despite being one of the seeded qualifiers, against Brian Simpson, who did reach the main draw once last season. So, Woodbury will probably his work cut out for him against Simpson.

Prediction

Well, we're not sure if there's any room left, but we're going to get on the Waselenchuk bandwagon and say that he'll win in Kentucky. Not really going out on a limb, but with two tournament victories in two tournaments during which he only lost two games, it's hard to pick against him.

So, we're not.

Follow the bouncing ball....