IRT Krowning Moment Preview

This weekend’s Krowning Moment Pro Invitational in Edinburg, Texas - this weekend’s International Racquetball Tour (IRT) event - was only announced a short time ago, which may explain the small draw, as there are only 17 players in Edinburg.

The event essentially fills in the schedule for the cancelled Stockton event, and it does have most of the top 10 players in action. Ben Croft is the biggest absence, and we’ve heard a rumour that he’s going to have shoulder surgery, which may explain his absence this weekend.

Highlights of the early matches should be Jansen Allen versus Coby Iwaasa, Marco Rojas versus Tim Landeryou and perhaps Alvaro Beltran versus Javier Mar.

Iwaasa won the Canadian Junior Boy’s U18 title last week, and took Daniel De La Rosa to a tie-breaker the last time he was on tour, so he’s a solid player that Allen will have his hands full with.

Landeryou’s also a Canadian, who is trying to qualify for Team Canada for the Pan American Games (PAGs). Racquetball Canada will offer spot on the PAGs team to the highest ranked Canadians on the IRT but they have to be in the top 16. Landeryou is currently 17th, so he’s not quite there. Also, Iwaasa is 18th.

Finally, Mar had good results last week in the Battle of the Alamo, where he finished in the semi-finals, losing in four games to Allen. Also, he and Landeryou were in the Men’s Open final, which Landeryou won in two games. So, Mar should be a good test for Beltran in the Round of 16.

You can follow this weekend’s action via the IRT Network beginning at 10 AM CDT Friday.

2015 Krowning Moment Pro Invitational
Edinburg, Texas

First round

16 Eduardo Garay v. 17 Ramon Florez

Round of 16

1 Rocky Carson v. 16 Eduardo Garay or 17 Ramon Florez
8 Charlie Pratt v. 9 Robert Collins

5 Jose Rojas v. 12 Scott McClellan
4 Daniel De La Rosa v. 13 Eddie Sada

3 Alvaro Beltran v. 14 Javier Mar
6 Jansen Allen v. 11 Coby Iwaasa

7 Marco Rojas v. 10 Tim Landeryou
2 Kane Waselenchuk v. 15 Jody Morris

Follow the bouncing ball….