Current collegiate national champion, Multiple All Ireland Handball Championship winner and US Nationals Titles winner – David Walsh, Mallow, brushed aside his round of 16 loss to Lucho Cordova (PRO TOUR winner) with impressive wins against Mark Doyle (25-22) and Loren Collado (25-9) to advance to the 9th place final at the World Players of Handball Tournament in Tucson, Arizona, while Dylan Hernandez continued his impressive rise to the game’s elite with wins against John Wayne Cortez (25-14) and Niall O’Connor (25-14) to meet Walsh in the ninth place final.
Walsh and Hernandez played the Playoff match of the tournament, with the two evenly matched stars from 5,100 miles apart needing overtime to decide the winner. Ultimately it was the Irishman crossing the line, winning three Playoff matches in all for his best R48 finish. A prestigious 9th place position for Mallow Man on the Pro tour elite ranks.
Final: Walsh def Hernandez (California, USA) 26-24