 Squash
Australia has unveiled an expanded 2011 Australian Squash
Tour, featuring 14 tournaments in every state and territory
over a four month period.
The tour starts with the ACT Open in Canberra in late March
and culminates back in the national capital with the
Australian Open from August 8-14.
The Australian Squash Tour has been building every year
since 2007, with the number of tournaments increasing along
with the amounts of prize money on offer.
This has allowed the country’s younger players to compete
for valuable ranking points without having to go overseas,
as they often had to in the past.
Squash Australia CEO Gary O’Donnell said the growth
of the tour highlighted the resurgence of the sport across
the country.
“Each year we have had more and more interest from people
wanting to host stops on the tour,” he said.
“We are delighted that the tour will now take in so many
different towns and cities as it gives all our locally based
players, particularly the younger ones, the chance to take
part in top quality events.
“We are also pleased to welcome Brisbane back to the tour –
it’s important that Australia’s third largest city is host
to a professional tournament.”
Brisbane is home to two tournaments in 2011, the men’s
Hibiscus Gardens Open in early April and the Queensland Open
in July.
Another highlight will be South Australian Squash Week,
which will be held from the start of the Millicent Open on
June 10 to the end of the Maxwell Wines South Australian
Open on June 19 and will feature a range of promotional
events including a Celebrity Pro-Am.
The Australian Open will once again be held on the all-glass
court at Canberra’s Royal Theatre and will attract the best
players in the world to Australia.
There will also be three tournaments after the Australian
Open, with the men’s and women’s events to be played at
Coffs Harbour, Mackay and Caboolture later in the year.
2011 Australian Squash Tour
Mar 25-27 ACT Open, Canberra
Apr 01-03 Hibiscus Gardens Open (Men), Brisbane
Apr 08-10 Westerfolds JDP (Women) Melbourne
May 05-08 Top End Open, Darwin
May 13-15 Alice Springs Open, Alice Springs
May 27-29 City of Perth International, Perth
Jun 03-05 Golden Open, Kalgoorlie, WA
Jun 10-12 Millicent Open, Millicent, SA
Jun 16-19 Maxwell Wines South Australian Open,
Adelaide
Jul 07-10 Victoria Open, Melbourne
Jul 15-17 Tasmanian Open, Hobart
Jul 22-24 Qld Open, Brisbane
Jul 29-31 NSW Open, Sydney
Aug 08-14 Australian Open, Canberra
|
2010 Australian Tour coverage |
