Palmer Prevails In Bluenose Classic

David Palmer beat England's Peter Barker in straight games in the final of the Bluenose Classic in Canada - but while the Australian was seeded to win the $40,000 PSA Tour squash event at the Tower at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, it was Palmer's first victory over his lower-ranked opponent in three North American Tour meetings since last September.

Palmer, the US-based world number six from New South Wales, reached his 51st Tour final after beating Spaniard Borja Golan, winner of last week's Motor City Open in Detroit.

It was Barker, the second seed from London, who ensured a new winner of the event in its fourth year in Halifax when he defeated Dutch defending champion Laurens Jan Anjema in the other semi.

But Palmer proved his first seed status with a near flawless display in the final. The favourite's total unforced error count averaged only one per game, an almost impossible task to counter - even for another top-ten player like Barker.

And after 44 minutes, 32-year-old Palmer celebrated the 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 victory which takes his PSA Tour haul to 24 titles - and stretches his lead as the current player with the most Tour titles to two ahead of second-placed Amr Shabana.

Final:
[1] David Palmer (AUS) bt [2] Peter Barker (ENG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (44m)