New Orleans, LA, WPH Press, 1/17/23
The 2023 Race 4 Eight New Orleans Mardi Gras Open produced a number of highlights, from incredible matches, first-time winners, stunning comebacks, New Orleans cuisine and much more. Check out the Top 8 Highlights from the 2023 Mardi Gras.
Top 8 Highlights From the 2023 Race 4 Eight Mardi Gras
- Clodagh Munroe makes the WR48 final in her first WR48 start, upsetting top-seeded Ashley Ruiz in a tiebreaker in the semifinals
- Aimee Tuohey plays flawlessly in the New Orleans final, becoming the fifth woman to win a WR48 title in the twenty-seven WR48 events
- 80% of the draw in the 2023 Mardi Gras were under 31, more than half of the draw were current collegiate players. More on the New Orleans Mardi Gras collegiate participation HERE
- Martin Mulkerrins played arguably perfect handball for the first 20 minutes of the men’s final, outscoring R48 #1 Lucho Cordova 25-2 in the first 27 points of the match before entering what Mulkerrins called the “melting pot” after a late Lucho run cut Martin’s second game lead to 11-13 – Mulkerrins closed out the match with consecutive ace serves
- Multiple-time Irish junior national champion Mark Doyle stuns fourth-seeded David Fink by overcoming four match points to win the second and third games in overtime to announce himself as a force on the Race 4 Eight tour
- The Saturday New Orleans tournament buffet, complete with seafood gumbo, fried catfish, fresh rolls and much more
- John Bike take 17th in the R48 Men’s Pro with impressive wins over Dylan Schmitt and John Chapman
- Mulkerrins and Lucho officially announce the hottest rivalry in the sport – Mulkerrins leads Lucho 2-1 in their three head-to-head finals matchups on the 2022/23 R48 tour – Mulkerrins has outscored Lucho 75-55 in those three matches (58%)
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer