Austin, TX, WPH Press, 9/24/23
The 2023 Austin City Tournament boasted eighty players, including one of the strongest fields in the the Austin City Men’s Open singles history, as Austin defending champion and current R48 #2 Martin Mulkerrins headlined a field that included his brother and R48 #23 Diarmuid Mulkerrins and Texas handball legend Adam Bernhard. Defending Austin City Women’s Open singles champion headlined a field that included Ireland’s Aoife Holden, Taylor Bell and Avery Shepherd.
Men’s Open Singles
The Martin Mulkerrins Express rolled through Austin, as the current national champion dominated the Austin City field. Mulkerrins trounced Christian Madsen (MO) and Ross Colyer (MO) en route to the final where “Weekend at Bernie’s” awaited. Bernie defeated surprise semifinalist Taylor Schmitt in the semifinals to meet Mulkerrins in the final after Schmitt stunned Diarmuid Mulkerrins in an 11-10 tiebreaker in the quarterfinals.
Mulkerrins dominated game one against Bernie in the final but found himself trailing 6-10 in game two. “Adam seemed to get stuck on ten, which allowed me to get to a 17-10 ahead and finish it out from there,” Mulkerrins would say.
“I had my moments,” Bernhard would later say. “I was making points with fly and front court play. Martin changed to a more defensive game to get me out of offensive rhythm (at 6-10). I gave way too many back wall setups and he has a way of making any back wall a setup.”
Semifinals
Mulkerrins def Colyer 21-6, 21-5
Bernhard def T. Schmitt 21-7, 21-14
Final: M. Mulkerrins def Bernhard 21-4, 21-13
Women’s Open Singles
Top-seeded Kristen Hughes advanced to the final on her home court with a close two-game win against Austin rival Avery Shepherd, while Ireland’s Aoife Holden was impressive in sweeping Missouri’s Taylor Bell in the bottom bracket semifinal.
In the first matchup between Hughes and Holden, Holden raced to a big lead in game one and clinched a one-game lead, 21-10. Hughes stormed back in game two, forcing a third and winning a close tiebreaker.
“Kristen and Aoife were very evenly matched and it played out that way,” stated Mulkerrins.
Semifinals
Hughes def Shepherd 21-13, 21-20
Holden def Bell 21-8, 21-6
Final: Hughes def Holden 10-21, 21-15, 11-6
Thank you to the University of Texas Handball Team for organizing and running an outstanding event.
Follow all of the results from the 2023 Austin City Tournament HERE
Enter the November 10-12, 2023 University of Texas R48 & WR48 Pre Qualifier HERE
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer