Weekend Round Up - Wins for Mendez, T. Carson & Stark & Julbes

Natalia Mendez narrowly beat Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 12-15, 11-10, to win Women’s Open at the 2016 Paola Longoria Invitational in Monterrey, Mexico on the weekend. In the semi-finals, Mendez defeated Susana Acosta, 15-5, 15-11, while Muñoz beat Ana Laura Flores, 15-10, 15-2.

Mario Mercado won Men’s Open at the 2016 Galaxy Custom Printing Atlanta Pro-Am, as he defeated Andres Acuña in the final, 14-15, 15-14, 11-5. In the semi-finals, Mercado got a forfeit win over Samuel Murray, and Acuña beat Danny Smith, 15-7, 15-13.

In the Women’s Open final at the Atlanta Pro-Am, Regina Franco defeated Sharon Jackson, 15-13, 15-12. In the semi-finals, Franco defeated Jordan Cooperrider, 15-9, 4-15, 11-10, while Jackson beat Maritza Franco, 15-3, 15-12.

In Portland, Oregon, Tony Carson won the Sunset Turkey Shoot Pro/Am, an International Racquetball Tour (IRT) Tier 4 event. Carson, a former top 10 IRT player who hasn’t played very often the last two seasons, defeated veteran Jimmy Lowe in the final, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4.

In the semi-finals, Carson beat top seed Dylan Reid, 8-11, 11-4, 11-1, 11-6, while Lowe came back from a two game deficit to defeat Jason Samora, 9-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6.

In the doubles final, Jeff Stark and Paul Julbes defeated Michael Bern and Jason Samora, 13-15, 15-5, 11-10. It was a surprise final, as Stark and Julbes were 4th seeds with Bern and Samora 3rd seeds. But in the semi-finals Stark and Julbes beat top seeds Carson and Jeremy McGlothin, 4-15, 15-8, 11-10, while Bern and Samora defeated Tim Prigo and Reid, 15-9, 5-15, 11-8.

The next big racquetball event will be the 2016 International Racquetball Federation (IRF) World Junior Racquetball Championships in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. World Juniors will begin on Saturday November 12, and we’ll have a preview for you later this week.

2016 Paola Longoria Invitational, November 4-6, 2016
Monterrey, Mexico

Final - Singles

1) Natalia Mendez d. 3) Carla Muñoz, 15-7, 12-15, 11-10

Semi-finals

1) Natalia Mendez d. 4) Susana Acosta, 15-5, 15-11
3) Carla Muñoz d. 7) Ana Laura Flores, 15-10, 15-2

Quarterfinals

1) Natalia Mendez d. 8) Jessica Maldonado, 15-11, 15-11
4) Susana Acosta d. 5) Adriana Riveros, 10-15, 15-4, 11-4
3) Carla Muñoz d. 6) Youngock Lee, 15-5, 15-3
7) Ana Laura Flores d. 2) Cristina Amaya, 15-7, injury forfeit

2016 Galaxy Custom Printing Atlanta Pro-Am
Lilburn, Georgia

Men’s Open - Final

Mario Mercado d. Andres Acuña, 14-15, 15-14, 11-5

Semi-final

Andres Acuña d. Danny Smith, 15-7, 15-13
Mario Mercado d. Samuel Murray, forfeit

Women’s Open Final

Regina Franco d. Sharon Jackson, 15-13, 15-12

Semi-finals

Sharon Jackson d. Maritza Franco, 15-3, 15-12
Regina Franco d. Jordan Cooperrider, 15-9, 4-15, 11-10

2016 Sunset Turkey Shoot Pro-Am
Portland, Oregon

Men’s Singles

4) Tony Carson d. 2) Jimmy Lowe, 11-1, 11-1, 11-4

Semi-finals

4) Tony Carson d. 1) Dylan Reid, 8-11, 11-4, 11-1, 11-6
2) Jimmy Lowe d. 3) Jason Samora, 9-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6

Men’s Doubles - Final

4) Jeff Stark & Paul Julbes d. 3) Michael Bern & Jason Samora, 13-15, 15-5, 11-10

Semi-finals

4) Jeff Stark & Paul Julbes d. 1) Tony Carson & Jeremy McGlothin, 4-15, 15-8, 11-10
3) Michael Bern & Jason Samora d. 2) Tim Prigo & Dylan Reid, 15-9, 5-15, 11-8

Follow the bouncing ball….