Will Colmar and Adam Morgan Super at Indianapolis Men’s Open

December 16, 2019
Indianapolis, IN

2019 Indianapolis Men's Open NRT/PCQ Final Results (doc), (pdf)

By Ed Burns

The first curve ball gifted to the Indy Men’s tourney this year was coming up with a new date, since our traditional February date competed with a Grand Prix event in Philly, hence the atypical time of mid-December. The Indy contingency worked hard to market the event, and even threw some cash incentives to lure talent from all over and assembled a highly competitive, talent-laden field.

The weekend forecast called for some form of wet stuff for Saturday, but the paddle gods (aka Hopper) again gifted us more 50 shades of grey skies and just slightly cooler temperatures.

The seeds held to form into the quarters and then things got weird. Local brother duo Dave and Zach Held took down the formidable top seed team of Scott Kahler and Dan Hersch in straight sets. In another quarter, the local Woodstock pro Brian Hagman and his Chicago partner Brad Smith took out the third seed of Jay Schwab and Ian Hintz in three sets.

Semi Scene in the Ravine

If there is a better site for three courts nestled in a ravine, we’ve yet to see it. Woodstock Country Club put on a show hosting the semis where appetizers and libations filled the bellies of the scores of witnesses to the final four. Also of note, three of the four teams had Indy roots, which amped up the highly partisan crowd.

In semi #1, Hagman/Smith played valiantly against the second seeds Will Colmar (aka Rusty Screens) and Adam Morgan but lost in two close sets of 7-5, 6-3.

In semi #2, real drama unfolded. The fourth seeded team, Ryan Baxter and Tom Murphy, took out the Held brothers in two highly competitive and long sets, 7-5, 6-4.

The Finals

On Sunday morning, the formidable duo of Colmar/Morgan officially crashed the all-Indy lovefest with a victory over Baxter/Murphy in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Gratitude

All gratitude expressed to: The Men’s 90+ host site of Meridian Hills, and Open host site of Woodstock, including other sites Highland and Carmel Racquet Club; the sponsors and volunteers; all who came out to watch top level paddle; and all the participants from as far west as Colorado, north as Wisconsin, south as Kentucky, and east as Connecticut.

The APTA thanks Tournament Director Ludo Aaron and all the staff and volunteers for an excellent event.

RESULTS
Main Draw: Will Colmar/Adam Morgan def. Ryan Baxter/Tom Murphy, 6-3, 6-2
Quarter Reprieve: Dan Hersch/Scott Kahler def. Mitch Granger/Alex Lambropolus, 6-4, 6-0
Reprieve: Mike Marino/Dane Schmigdall def. Kyle Bates/Jimmy Dunseth, 7-5, 6-3
Consolation: John Baxter/Mike Valinetz def. Ed Burns/Mikael Thygesen, 6-4, 6-3
Consolation Reprieve: Jake Jenner/Trey Minter def. Rich Moellering/Tom Moellering, 6-0, 6-2