Recapping the R48 7 Pre Qualifiers
Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 1/7/18- The WPH was thrilled to introduce the Race 4 Eight Pre Qualifier during the 2017-2018 Race 4 Eight 7 season, providing opportunities for players not ranked in the R48 Elite 8 to earn travel stipends to the R48 7 event of their choice. The winner of a R48 Pre Qualifier is given an entry, flight, and hotel stipends to the R48 7 event of their choosing, and in instances in which two players in the R48 top 25 entered, the winner receives direct entry in the event of his choice into the round of 16, bypassing the qualifier.
“Starting with the first R48 Pre Qualifier in Tucson in September, the R48 Pre Qualifiers have generated a lot of buzz and enthusiasm across the country for a season that already had a tremendous amount of excitement,” stated WPH Executive Director David Vincent. “We’ve already had more than 110 qualifier hopefuls enter the first six R48 Pre Qualifiers for a chance to win travel stipends to R48 7 events. This is a very exciting concept for everyone from the young guys who are trying to break onto the tour to the veterans trying to stay on tour and everyone in between.”
Pre Qualifier Concept explained here
Check out all of the R48 7 Pre Qualifiers held in the fall and winter of 2017 and January of 2018 and R48 Pre Qualifier Fun Facts.
Tucson R48 7 Pre Qualifier: 9/9/17
*Winner: Abraham Montijo
Chose to play in the R48 7 Atlanta Stop #1 (finished t11)
Recap here
Pittsburgh R48 7 Pre Qualifier: 10/21/17
*Winner: Stephen Cooney
Chose to play in the R48 7 Stop #4 Las Vegas (February 9-11, 2018)
Recap here
Portland Classic R48 7 Pre Qualifier: 10/30/17
Winner: Dalton Beall
Chose to play in the R48 7 Stop #3 Montana (January 26-28, 2018)
Recap here
Texas State Singles R48 7 Pre Qualifier: 11/14/17
Winner: Adam Bernhard
Chose to play in the R48 7 Stop #4 Las Vegas (February 9-11, 2018)
Recap here
LAAC R48 7 Pre Qualifier: 12/9/17
Winner: George Garcia, Jr
Chose to play in the R48 7 Stop #5 Houston (March 9-11, 2018)
Recap here
OC Singles R48 7 Pre Qualifier: 1/6/18 (upcoming)
Winner: Emmett Peixoto
Chose to play in the R48 7 Stop #4 Las Vegas (February 9-11, 2018)
Recap here
*By winning the R48 Pre Qualifiers in Tucson and Pittsburgh, respectively, Montijo and Cooney were given direct access to the R48 7 main draws in their selected stops because two players in their R48 Pre Qualifiers entered the pre qualifiers ranked in the R48 top 25
R48 Pre Qualifier Fun Facts–Tucson-LAAC ‘17:
- The first R48 Pre Qualifier was held on September 9, 2017 (Tucson)
- The highest ranked player to enter a R48 Pre Qualifier was Emmett Peixoto (#11) at the Olympic Club in San Francisco in January ‘18
- The highest ranked player to win a R48 Pre Qualifier was Emmett Peixoto (#11) at the Olympic Club in San Francisco in January ‘18
- The highest ranked player to enter a R48 Pre Qualifier and not win was Shorty Ruiz (#16) in Tucson in September ‘17
- The lowest ranked player to win a R48 Pre Qualifier was George Garcia Jr. at the LAAC in December ’17 (not ranked)
- The closest R48 Pre Qualifier final was between George Garcia Jr. and Carlos Chavez at the LAAC in December ’17 (26-24: overtime)
- The most players to enter a R48 Pre Qualifier was in Tucson ’17 (24 players)
- Four former R48 Elite 8 invitees have entered a R48 Pre Qualifier (Peixoto, Montijo, Cooney, Aa. Garner)
If your handball city is interested in hosting a R48 Pre Qualifier during the 2017-2018 R48 7 season or during the 2018-2019 R48 8 season, please contact David Fink at david.fink@wphlive.tv
Log onto wphlive.tv, Like the World Players of Handball on Facebook, or follow the WPH on Twitter @dfwph and @wphlive for all of the handball news from on and off the court! The World Players of Handball is a non-profit foundation aiming to grow the game of handball through innovation and inspiring the next generation of players through junior clinics with Certified WPH Coaches, junior tournaments and the Race 4 Eight and WPH Outdoor tours.
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer