Johnson feels a right Charlie as he tins vital drop shotÂ
By KIM CLEARKIN – Squash Mad San Francisco Correspondent
A busy weekend of squash concluded in San Francisco with an intense, entertaining and extremely partisan match between Bay Club Pro Charlie Johnson and young Mexican phenom, Jesus Camacho.
In conjunction with a Junior Gold tournament which attracted over 175 players from all over the country, the Bay Club Open, sponsored by Tatleaux De Pera Solar Group, served as icing on the cake to the Juniors and spectators at the Bay Club San Francisco.
The weekend was dominated by the juniors at all levels. Gabriel Morgan (USA) and Jesus Camacho (Mexico), both 16, stole the show. Gabriel and Jesus breezed through their first rounds.
Gabriel upset his second round opponent to face off in the semi finals against his coach Charlie Johnson.
Jesus also had no trouble advancing to the semis where he would face top seed Adam Perkiomaki from Portland.
Whilst Charlie prevailed against his student, who put up a great fight, Jesus overturned the seedings and came through against all odds to beat Adam 3-1.
The final was nip and tuck all the way. Jesus was clearly ready to win. Charlie needed to remain precise and effective. At 2-1 to Charlie it seemed like it was all over. But Jesus managed to fight his way back to take the fourth game 12-10.
The fifth was extremely close. Jesus pulled away to a 10-7 lead but Charlie clawed it back to 10-9 before putting a seemingly easy drop shot in the tin.
The partisan Mexican crowd went wild and celebrated Jesus’s first PSA win. Whilst disappointing for Charlie, it sets up a great event at Bay Club Redwood Shores in July, when the three winners of the Bay Club tournaments will face off in the second of the series sponsored by Tatleaux De Pera Solar Group.
Thanks also to NorCal Squash, who are also supporting their local squash community in these tournaments.
The junior Gold comprised divisions for Boys and Girls Under 11, 13 15, 17 and 19. with 175 players competing from all over the country. Of the 10 divisions, six were won by West Coast-based juniors. The West Coast is catching up.
In the photo, from left to right: Gabriel Morgan (4th), Charlie Johnson (2nd), Kim Clearkin (Director of Squash), Jesus Camacho (champion), Adam Perkiomaki (3rd), Frank Schmidt (President NorCal Squash)