Westchester Open Pro Squash Tournament

                               Copied from press release:

 Pro Squash Tour

Westchester Open Comes to Four Area Clubs

Natick, MA – January 21, 2011 --The Westchester Open, the first major tournament of the 2011 Pro Squash Tour, will take place at four Westchester clubs from January 31 to Feb. 4.  The 15 professional players representing nine countries are a mix of international champions, teaching pros and coaches from area clubs and schools. Plus 14-year-old Mason Ripka, U.S. No. 1 junior, who trains in Tuckahoe, will test his talents against the pros.

Ripka is the No.1 ranked junior player in his age group and is competing at the top level of international play, having already won 18 tournament titles in his career. His career successes include winning the Frank Millet Championship at Harvard University three times and the 2010 Junior Championship Tournament U17 Division in Cleveland. He is the No.7 ranked player in the European ranking system and is one of the bright lights on the American squash scene.

Other competitors include Kush Mahan from Kenya, teaching pro at Pyramid Squash Club in Tuckahoe;  Ahmed Hamza from Egypt, head pro at Greenwich Field Club;  Shahid Khan from England, teaching pro at Club at 800 Squash & Fitness in Rye Brook;  JP Sardi of the U.S., another teaching pro at Pyramid Squash Club;  Raj Nanda from Australia, head coach at Hackley School, and Bernardo Samper, Rye resident from Colombia and former pro at Westchester Country Club. They will join squash luminaries such as John White, former world No.1, and world record holder for the fastest squash shot; John Rooney, two-time reigning Irish National Champion and other international touring pros.

More than 150 years old and played by more than 20 million people in 185 countries, squash has shown sustained growth in the U.S. in recent years. The U.S.-based Pro Squash Tour was founded in 2009 and coordinates a tour with stops across the United States. The season begins in September and runs through April.

The Westchester Open matches will be played at the following locations:

Jan. 31: New York Sports Club in White Plains

Feb. 1: Club at 800 in Rye Brook

Feb. 2: Bronxville Field Club

Feb. 3 & 4: Pyramid Squash Club in Tuckahoe

Tickets range in price from $20 to $40 and can be ordered by calling (800) 595–4tix / (800) 595-4849 or by visiting www.prosquashtour.net

Joseph M. McManus  

Commissioner and Chief Executive | Pro Squash Tour | 19 Tech Circle, Natick, MA 01760 | p.609-916-0100 | c.617-513-6800 | f.484-970-1660 | Skype: joseph.mcmanus | joe@ProSquashTour.net