Haworth Claims Maiden PPA Tour Gold Medal
Chris Haworth made history by securing his first PPA Tour gold medal in the men’s singles final, defeating top-seeded Federico Staksrud 9-11, 11-5, 11-7.
The match was intense, with the players splitting the first two games. In the decisive third game, Haworth took an early lead, 5-2, but Staksrud fought back to level the score at 7-7.
However, Haworth dug deep and found his best form, unleashing powerful backhand winners to clinch the victory and claim his maiden gold medal. The No. 11 seed’s triumph marked a significant milestone in his career.
Haworth’s Texas Open Experience Pays Off
Chris Haworth credits his ability to perform under pressure to his recent experience at the Texas Open, where he narrowly lost to Ben Johns in the final. This experience helped him edge out Federico Staksrud in the PPA Tour gold medal match.
“I was close against Ben in Texas, so when it got tight today, I drew on that experience and managed to pull through,” Haworth explained.
En route to his gold medal, Haworth defeated a string of top singles players, including Yates Johnson, Dylan Frazier, Grayson Goldin, Ben Johns, and finally, Federico Staksrud. He was particularly thrilled to have beaten the top two seeds, Staksrud and Johns, in consecutive matches.
“Staksrud and Johns are the best singles players on tour, consistently reaching finals, so beating them both makes this victory even more special,” Haworth said.
In the bronze medal match, Ben Johns bounced back from his loss to Haworth, defeating Tyson McGuffin 11-8, 11-1.
