Owain Flying The Flag For Wales At PSA Event

Wales international Owain Taylor is intent on becoming the third Welshman in the main draw at Rhiwbina SRC’s Welsh Open tournament.

Taylor, 22, won his opening qualifying match and plays his second against England’s Michael Harris this evening (Tuesday).

Colchester-born Taylor, who is studying Architectural Environment Engineering, at the University of Nottingham.

He plays on the PSA World Tour and has a career best ranking of 265.

Well done great effort @FRichards26 https://t.co/4G8c8JInWF

— Rebecca Baker (@rebeccahounsell) May 7, 2018

Taylor is one of eight players through to the second round in qualifying and the four winners this evening will go into the main draw.

Cardiff’s Peter Creed, who plays out of Rhiwbina SRC, is top seed for the Welsh Open, while Rhyl’s Emyr Evans is also in the main draw for the Professional Squash Association $10,000 World Tour tournament.

Wales’ Lewis Poole in action against Jamaican Lewis Walters @PSAWales pic.twitter.com/YNZL8lrbLc

— Richard Murphy (@Richard_murphy3) May 7, 2018

Rhiwbina launched the Welsh Open a year ago, bringing a PSA event to Wales for the first time in a decade.

Qualifying matches are completed this evening runs from Wednesday, May 9 to Sunday, May 12.

Reigning champion George Parker returns to defend his title and is second seed with Caerphilly-born Creed, who played for Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, number one.

Welsh player Peter Creed.

England’s Patrick Rooney, runner-up in the first Welsh Open a year ago, is also competing.

Players from Brazil, Kuwait, Jamaica, Finland, Spain, Jordan, Pakistan, Malaysia, USA, England, Scotland and hosts Wales are in the draw.

The seeds are: 1 Peter Creed (Wales, World ranking 55), George Parker (England, 56), Richie Fallows (England, 62), Chris Hanson (USA, 76), Mahd Syafiq Kamal (Malaysia, 81), Ammar Altamimi (Kuwait, 86), Ahson Ayaz (Pakistan, 87), Mohammed Alsarraj (Jordan, 90), Patrick Rooney (England, 92), Jaymie Haycocks (England, 93), Carlos Cornes Ribadas (Spain, 104), Emyr Evans (Wales, 134).

Qualifying, first round: Tom Walsh (England) beat David Haley (Wales) 11-1, 15-13, 11-5; Vini Rodrigues (Brazil) beat Owen Heyes (Wales) 11-3, 11-1, 11-4; Owain Taylor (Wales) beat James Peach (England) 5-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7; Michael Harris (England) beat Phil Nightingale (England) 11-3, 11-7, 11-2; Miles Jenkins (England) beat Elliott Morris (Wales) 11-8, 3-11, 11-7, 11-7; Nick Wall (England) beat Chris Leiper (Scotland) 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-5; Lewis Walters (Jamaica) beat Lewis Poole (Wales) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8; Matias Tuomi (Finland) beat Frazer Richards (Wales) 11-3, 11-4, 11-2.

The University of Nottingham Sport Scholarship. Photos by Alex Wilkinson Photography and Videography, www.alexwilkinsonphotography.co.uk

Second round qualifying (to be played Tuesday evening): 7pm Tom Walsh (England) v Vini Rodrigues (Brazil); 7pm Owain Taylor (Wales) v Michael Harris (England); 7.45pm Miles Jenkins (England) v Nick Wall (England); 7.45pm Lewis Walters (Jamaica) v Matias Tuomi (Finland).

Main draw, first round (matches to be played on Wednesday):

5.15pm: Peter Creed (Wales) v qualifier; Lyell Fuller (England) v Mohammad Alsarrai (Jordan).

6pm: Patrick Rooney (England) v Emyr Evans (Wales); qualifier for Mohd Syafiq Kamal (Malaysia).

6.45pm: Richie Fallows (England) v qualifier; qualifier v Ahsan Ayaz (Pakistan).

7.30pm: Ammar Altamimi (Kuwait) v Carlos Cornes Ribadas (Spain), Jaymie Haycocks (England) v George Parker (England).