Sixteen-year-old American Marina Stefanoni earned her second career PSA World Tour title in just as many months after winning the final of the $5,5000 Women’s Bourbon Trail Event No. 4 Saturday, April 27, at Scenic City Squash in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In March, Stefanoni claimed her first career PSA title by winning the $5,500 Bermuda Open as the tournament’s two seed. Stefanoni entered the Bourbon Trail draw once again seeded second and this time pulled off a perfect tournament, clinching the title without dropping a game.
In the semifinals, Stefanoni overcame four seed and Bates graduate Nessrine Ariffin 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 in twenty minutes to set up a final against French Penn graduate Marie Stephan. In the final, Stefanoni prevailed 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 in twenty-three minutes.
“Stefanoni maintained something of a stranglehold and despite courageous endeavor, Marie Stephan could not break free of the iron grip of precise length and sudden vicious wrong footing volleys and short arm flicks that Stefanoni used to create missteps from her opponent and ultimately, take the match,” Reported Richard Millman, Bourbon Trail tournament director. “Many congratulations to Marina on winning her second career PSA event. A worthy champion giving notice of more to come.”
The Darien, Connecticut-native has now won both of her career PSA final appearances in just her third PSA event of 2019. The three-time U.S. junior champion continues her run of PSA appearances this spring with two events in May: the $5,500 BVI Open, May 16-18, and $5,500 Open International Volcans, May 23-26.