Mike Ferreira & James Bamber won their partnership’s second SDA title and first since the 2020 Ox Ridge Open in January 2020 at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club Open Sunday, November 21, in Briarcliff Manor, New York.
The Englishmen entered the draw as the tournament’s four seeds and opened up their tournament with a four-game win over Canadians Joshua Hollings & Matthew Henderson to set up a semifinal against top seeds Manek Mathur & Chris Callis. Mathur & Callis endured a difficult four-game opening match against former Australian PSA professionals Cameron Pilley & Ryan Cuskelly. The top seeds’ hopes of a second title this season ended abruptly, however, as an injury forced retirement in the third game of their semifinal against Ferreira & Bamber.
Three seeds Greg McArthur & Zac Alexander took part in two of the matches of the tournament. After a four-game opening win over John Roberts & Robby Berner, McArthur & Alexander met two seeds James Stout & Suzie Pierrepont in the semifinals. McArthur & Alexander pulled out a five-game marathon over the two seeds 12-15, 15-14, 15-8, 10-15, 15-12.
The final proved to be another five-game battle, but this time it was Ferreira & Bamber who emerged victorious over McArthur & Alexander 12-15, 15-10, 15-14, 7-15, 15-12.
“It was a very tough final against Greg and Zac and frankly at 10-10 all in the fifth, it could have gone either way,” Ferreira said. “But the momentum swung a little more in our favor as we were able to win a hand full of big points by upping the pace and being a little more patient. It feels great to win another tournament together and it will certainly give us more confidence as a team. Special thank you to the Sleepy Hollow members, Chairman Rob Gutheil and of course Greg McArthur for all the work involved with putting together such a terrific event!”
The tour resumes in the new year as Ferreira & Bamber have the opportunity to defend their Ox Ridge Open title, January 7-9.