San Francisco Bay Club to Host Tennyson West North American Open 2005; Pro Squash Tour Returns...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Top international squash players will return to San Francisco to compete in the $20,000 Tennyson West North American Open to be held Nov. 8-13 at the San Francisco Bay Club.

Formerly known as the Tennyson West Fog City Open, the United States Squash Racquets Association

(USSRA) this year granted tournament organizers the rights to the name "North American Open," thus reviving one of the oldest squash titles in the game. The North American Open has a long and storied history of world-class squash, boasting such past winners as Sharif Khan, Mark Talbot and Jahangir Khan, the greatest squash player of all time.

In addition to the new name, last year's tournament was such a huge hit that sponsors Tennyson West and The San Francisco Bay Club have doubled the prize money to $20,000 for this year's event. The larger purse has attracted stronger talent. The top four seeds are Bradley Ball (PSA world rank #25, England), Alex Gough (#27, Wales), Mark Chaloner (#33, England), and Shahier Razik (#34, Canada), who was a finalist in the 2004 Tennyson West Fog City Open.

"It's great to see so many of last year's tournament players back again this year," said Mark Allen, head squash coach at the Bay Club. "Bay Area squash enthusiasts will be treated to a week of world class squash and with such a deep playing field it will be interesting to see who emerges as our champion."

US National Men's Champion Julian Illingworth has been given the tournament's wildcard slot, giving the 21-year-old Yale University student an opportunity to compete against world-class competition.

Qualifying rounds will be held at two other local venues, The University Club of San Francisco, and The Pacific Athletic Club, in Redwood City, on Nov. 8-9, with the four winners moving into the first round of the main draw at The San Francisco Bay Club on Thursday, Nov. 10.

All proceeds from this year's tournament go toward building sports programs for underserved communities. The North American Open and the Giving on the "T" Foundation, in partnership with the Western Athletic Clubs, will provide seed grants in excess of $200,000 to support the Bay Area-based Sports4Kids (a non-profit that creates youth sports and recreational opportunities in inner city schools) and the USSRA programs to bring squash to underserved youth.

"We're extraordinarily excited to be partnering with North American Open and the Giving on the "T" Foundation," said Jill Vialet, executive director of Sports4Kids. "This represents a tremendous opportunity for us to give more kids the chance to play!"

As part of this year's fundraising efforts, the tournament will auction off a special "Dim Sum and Doubles" package, featuring a squash match and meal with celebrity chef and squash player Ming Tsai and squash legend Mark Talbott.

"We wanted to see the North American Open back on the tour and as a charity squash championship with a purpose that would impact kids who deserve and need it the most," said Giving on the "T" Chairman David Levy of Tennyson West.

Giving on the "T" was formed by San Francisco investment bank Tennyson West to offer grants and create philanthropic partnerships that bring squash coaches, yoga instructors and nutritionists to inner city youth.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by calling 415.901.9335. For more information visit http://www.tennysonwest.com/naopen/index.html.