A returning regular and a new face claimed the top spots in last week’s Dolphin Coast Squash Closed Championships.

Umar Hoosen claimed his second A Division victory on finals night last Thursday, while Daniel Tooley took B division honours at the first attempt.

The annual tournament brings together the cream of the squash crop from across the North Coast, who qualify via the tournaments held at their individual clubs.

Top seed Umar Hoosen was the man to beat after taking victory last year and he started confidently with a straight sets victory against eighth seed Justin Flemmer in the quarter-finals.

He faced fourth seed Mark Bishop in an exciting semi-final, eventually overcoming the tough match-up 3-1.

That left a titanic final clash against second seed Scott Isaacs, who was in equally hot form heading into the match. Isaacs had the better start and raced to an early lead, setting up a thrilling finish at 2-1 up.

But Hoosen would perform at his peak when it mattered, claiming the last two sets for an exciting 3-2 comeback win.

“Scott Isaacs played an incredibly fast game of squash, which really pushed me to my limits. It was a test of my endurance and strategy,” said Hoosen.

“It was extremely rewarding to adjust my tactics on the fly and come through with the victory. Well done to Scott for a fantastic final – it was a real challenge and a great match.”

In the B section, newcomer Tooley proved to be a name to remember. Facing off against Sydney Joelson in the final, Tooley lost the first game but came back strong to win 3-1.

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