Exciting squash is expected in this weekend’s Edmonds Tang pre-season open invitation tournament.
Some of the country’s top players are among the 128 entered. The tournament will be held at Christchurch Squash Club in Chester St.
The first three seedings in the men’s division are held by North Islanders – Tony Naughton (Wellington), Laurie Greene (Hamilton) and Stephen Hughes (Wellington) Canterbury’s Rod Hayes is fourth seed.
Naughton came to Christchurch twice last season, and performed impressively, winning both the Canterbury championships and the “Press” invitation open.
Greene was New Zealand champion in 1972, and ranked No.88 in New Zealand last season. Hughes went to Australia for some time to improve his squash, and on his return last season quickly reached the country’s rankings.
Hayes was last year’s national junior champion and a member of the team that went to Pakistan. He has firmly established himself on the local squash scene.
The women’s draw has been made more interesting with the addition of the Queensland women’s team which will face a Canterbury side on Thursday night.
The Australians – Jenny Irving, Gail Hughes, Robin Prentice and Linda Masumeci – have taken the top four seedings, with High School Old Boy’s player Ros Stanton ranked fifth.