2011 New York City Pro-Am - Preliminary Rounds

The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) season continues this weekend with the New York City Pro-Am in Syosset, New York, where IRT #1 Kane Waselenchuk will try to continue his match tournament winning streak that now stretches over two years.

There are 24 players competing for the 8 open spots in the Round of 16, so there will be two rounds of qualifying matches. One of those players is Ruben Gonzalez, who will be trying to get into the Round of 16 for the 29th consecutive season. He has to defeat Glen Garlson and Alejandro Herrera to get there.

Vincent Gagnon, bronze medalist at the 2010 World Championships, is also in Syosset and he could have a good match with Anthony Herrera, providing Gagnon beat Mitch Posner in the first round of qualifying. If Gagnon gets by Herrera, then he'd face Mitch Williams in the 16s.

Other good preliminary match ups are between two young guns with Jose Rojas meeting Agustin Tristan and also Mexican veteran Javier Moreno versus young American Nick Montalbano.

The 5-8 seeds have been juggled for this event, so that Mitch Williams is seeded 5th, Shane Vanderson 6th, Andy Hawthorne 7th, and Chris Crowther 8th. Hawthorne is ahead of Rojas in the rankings based on his victory over Rojas last weekend at the California Open.

The IRT Network will be web-casting New York Pro-Am beginning on Friday January 14 at noon EST.

2011 New York City Pro-Am - Syosset, New York
Round 1

David Horn d. Tom Keogh, 11-7, 11-4, 6-11, 11-6
Agustin Tristan d. Juan Felipe Garzon, 11-1, 11-7, 8-11, 11-2

Vincent Gagnon v. Mitch Posner
Lee Connell v. Jonathan Clay

Ruben Gonzalez v. Glenn Carlson
Sebastian Franco v. Stacey Young

Juan Pablo Rivas v. John Chisholm
Nick Montalbano d. Jack Goldberg, fft

Round 2

Q8: Tony Carson v. David Horn
Q1: Jose Rojas v. Agustin Tristan

Q4: Anthony Herrera v. Vincent Gagnon or Mitch Posner
Q5: Alejandro Landa v. Lee Connell or Jonathan Clay

Q6: Alejandro Herrera v. Ruben Gonzalez or Glen Carlson
Q3: Juan Herrera v. Sebastian Franco or Stacey Young

Q2: Charlie Pratt v. Juan Pablo Rivas or John Chilholm
Q7: Javier Moreno v. Nick Montalbano

Main Draw - Round of 16

Kane Waselenchuk v. Q8
Chris Crowther v. Q1

Mitch Williams v. Q4
Jack Huczek v. Q5

Ben Croft v. Q6
Shane Vanderson v. Q3

Andy Hawthorne v. Q2
Rocky Carson v. Q7

Follow the bouncing ball....