Clyne Clinches Charleston Title

Scotland's Alan Clyne clinched his maiden PSA Tour squash title in sensational style in the US state of South Carolina - first upsetting the third seed, then the second, and then the favourite to win the Merrill Lynch Pegasus Partners Charleston Challenge in Charleston.

The 22-year-old from Edinburgh was competing in his first Tour event of the year after reaching the quarter-finals of the World University Championship in Egypt last month.

Seeded five, Clyne despatched third seed Gilly Lane, from the USA, in the quarters before taking out second-seeded Canadian Robin Clarke in the semis.

In the final - his first in only his fourth appearance on the Tour - Clyne faced English favourite Jonathan Harford.

The match was a genuine see-saw of emotions and control of the game. Clyne, ranked 142 in the world, won the first in a gritty 20-minute battle as the two players searched for chinks in each other's armour.

Harford, 25 from Leeds and ranked 80 places higher, won the second and - now wearing the name of his country across his back in large letters - took the third for just three points.

However Clyne reappeared after the two-minute break donning a navy blue shirt with the word 'Scotland' emblazoned across his back in white - and the change into his national colours seemed to rejuvenate the underdog.

Clyne took the fourth in a game of almost 30 minutes. In the fifth the Scot was rampant, as Harford - despite brave resistance early and late in the game - was unable to find an answer to the ubiquitous Scot.

"It was a rip-roaring, roller-coaster of a five-game final, that included amazing squash, heart stopping gets and ferocious attacks and an extraordinarily sporting contest that, despite a very hot court, included few lets and an integrity which was exemplary," exclaimed tournament organiser Richard Millman after Clyne's 11-9, 8-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-3 victory in 79 minutes.

"I have been watching, teaching and playing this game for more than 30 years and I can rarely, if ever, remember seeing a finer contest," added Millman.

Final:
[5] Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [1] Jonathan Harford (ENG) 11-9, 8-11, 3-11, 11-6, 11-3 (79m)