The Referee of the Oceania Open Junior Championships, Pat O’Rourke, writes that ” Pacific players turned in a series of top performances at the Oceania Open Junior Championships in Lautkoa this week. Six girls and four boys gained valuable ITF Junior World Ranking points from the tournament.
Top singles performances came from Ayana Rengiil (Palau) and Carol Lee (NMI) who both reached the semifinals of an ITF circuit event for the first time. 13 year old Lee took out the third seed in the second round 6-0,6-3 and then beat Jaqueline Leong (HKG) 6-1,6-2 to make the semis where she lost to eventual winner Claudia Ng (HKG). Ayana Rengiil, the eighth seed, scored a marathon win over fourth seed Lisa Mays (AUS) 7-6(6), 1-6, 6-3 to make the semis. Vinda Teally (SOL) won her first round match as did Patricia Apisah (PNG) in her first tournament. Both girls will feature on the junior world ranking list next week. Apisah combined with Ruby Coffin (FIJ) to get to the semis of the doubles where they went down to eventual champions, Australians Gabriela Sprague and Jessica Zaviacic, 6-3, 6-3
The Pacific boys had some success as well with Junior Benjamin (SOL) taking out the 11th seed in the second round 6-2, 6-4 before falling to 6th seeded Tiger Cheung in the round of 16, 3-6, 6-3,6-3. Terry Rush (FSM) also reached the same round fighting off Larry Magalasin (ASA) in three sets 5-7,6-4,6-1. Larry Magalasin, in his first ITF event, combined with Graham Mani (SOL) to reach the quarter finals of the doubles and secure their first ranking points.
The tournament was dominated by players from Asia. Ching Lam (HKG) , on the left below won the boys singles comfortably beating Shao-Min Ko 6-1,6-3 (right below)
and the boys doubles went to Arthur Chau (HKG) and Shao-Min Ko (TPE).
L to R-Runners Up Tiger Cheung and Ching Lam(HKG) and winners Arthur Chau (HKG) and Shao-Min Ko (TPE)
Claudia Ng (HKG) was too consistent for Ella Husrefovic (AUS) winning the girls singles final”
L to R, runner up Ella Husrefovic(AUS) and Claudia Ng