Windy win for Lloyd

Third title of the year for Lloyd in American tournament

By Paul Higham   Last updated: 15th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Windy win for Lloyd

Lloyd: Chicago winner

The weekend was really enjoyable and it means a lot to win the tournament. I'm playing well at the moment and enjoying myself.

Colin Lloyd
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Colin Lloyd emerged from a five-set thriller to beat Wayne Mardle to win the Windy City Open title in Chicago.

'Jaws' beat Mardle 3-2 in the final in Northbrook to land his third Pro Tour title of the year but his first since March, but he was pushed all the way by Mardle.

It was a ding-dong battle with 'Hawaii 501' Mardle taking the first and third sets to force Lloyd to win the fourth to set up a decider.

Lloyd had the momentum though and carried that through to claim the Windy City Open title and the £5,000 first prize that moves him up two places into seventh in the Order of Merit.

Tested

Former World Matchplay and Grand Prix champion Lloyd had to withstand a fine comeback from Steve Maish in the semis as he blew a two-set lead but managed to bounce back to take the last and win 3-2.

Lloyd had previously beaten American duo Leo Ennis and Bill Davis before whitewashing Tony Eccles.

"I'm delighted to win and the final was great," said Lloyd.

"We both scored really well and it was great to play in, when one of us needed a big shot we took it out.

"It was similar against Steve in the semi-finals, he played really well and he was a little unlucky to be 2-0 down, but I got through in the end.

"The weekend was really enjoyable and it means a lot to win the tournament. I'm playing well at the moment and enjoying myself."

Mardle was in action for the first time since the World Matchplay in Blackpool and he had to fight all the way in his best performance of the year.

Dutch teenager Michael van Gerwen, Denis Ovens and Mark Walsh all pushed Mardle to five sets but each time he held his nerve to progress.

Defending champion and top seed Ronnie Baxter could not get beyond the first round as he was a shock loser against Canadian qualifier Bob Sinnaeve.

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