[Oklahoma PSA draw]           

Barrington Battles To Oklahoma Glory

England's 'marathon man' Joey Barrington battled for almost five hours over four matches to end up as the Osso/Bone & Joint Oklahoma City Squash Open champion at the Santa Fe Club in Oklahoma City, USA.

Joey Barrington wore down all opposition in Oklahoma City. (photo © 2006 SquashTalk archive)

Like his illustrious father Jonah Barrington, the six-times British Open champion, 26-year-old Joey is no stranger to marathon encounters on a squash court. Joey staged two "brutal battles" of his own, this weekend to collect his second successive PSA victory in the South Central USA.

Last week in Texas, Barrington endured a 140-minute final in the Sanders Morris Harris Houston Open, eventually emerging as runner-up after five games – three of which went to tie-breaks!

In Oklahoma City, Colombia's fifth seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez kept Barrington on court for 132 minutes before the Somerset star finally prevailed 11-9, 2-11, 11-7, 11-8 to earn his 12th place in a PSA Tour final.

The top seed faced Canada's No2 seed Matthew Giuffre for the Osso/Bone & Joint trophy.  But despite having played three-times longer in the previous round than his opponent, Barrington maintained his momentum in the final to survive an 84-minute clash to beat Giuffre 9-11, 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), 11-4.

The hard-earned triumph takes Barrington's career tally to three PSA Tour titles, following his maiden success in the Ontario Open in Canada in March 2004, then the Brazil Open win in Brasilia in April 2005.

RESULTS:        Osso/Bone & Joint Oklahoma City Squash Open, Oklahoma City, USA
Semi-finals:
[1] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt [5] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)   11-9, 2-11, 11-7, 11-8 (132m)
[2] Matthew Giuffre (CAN) bt [7] Tom Richards (ENG)                11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (45m)

Final:
[1] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt [2] Matthew Giuffre (CAN)             9-11, 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), 11-4 (84m)