Baltimore Open presented by CFG Community Bank
Sept. 9-12, 2010

MEDIA

4 National Champions Seeded to Compete for Baltimore Open Championship

— Merritt Athletic Club (Bare Hills) to Host World Class Draw —

Baltimore, MD (August 5, 2010) — A world class draw of professional squash players, including 4 National Champions, will arrive in Baltimore this September 9-12 to compete in the Baltimore Open presented by CFG Community Bank. The tournament is being hosted by Merritt Athletic Clubs at Bare Hills.

Seeded players include:
David Palmer (Australia): Two-time World Champion and ’09 Australian National Champion
Wael El Hindi (Egypt): ’08 Egyptian National Champion and World Team Champion Member
Shahier Razik (Canada): 4-time Canadian National Champion
Lefika Ragontse (Botswana): 10-time Botswana National Champion, Squash Pro at Merritt Athletic Clubs

Wade Johnstone, Touring Pro at the Meadow Mill Athletic Club in Baltimore, is also expected to compete in the tournament.

Hosted by the US based Pro Squash Tour, the Baltimore Open brings together the world’s greatest squash players for the tour’s first event of the 2010-2011 season. With only 90 seats available at Merritt Athletic Clubs (Bare Hills), the Baltimore Open gives area squash enthusiasts an opportunity to see the sport’s greatest players compete in the most intimate of settings.

David Palmer said, “I am looking forward to getting on court with this elite draw of champions. We have some long standing rivalries and it would be a great honor to win a tournament with this elite draw.”

Joseph McManus, US Pro Squash Tour Commissioner, likes this draw. “Everyone understands an international rivalry. Also, it will be a special experience because of the intimate nature of the event. Every fan is invited to a post match reception with the players. Every ticket is a premium ticket with personal access to the players.”

Also of note, amateur player clinics are tied in with the pro tournament. This represents a rare opportunity for local youth players to get on court with the world’s best squash players.

With over 27,000 members, more than 800 employees, swimming pools, squash, tennis, racquetball, more than 300 group exercise classes each week, 10 convenient locations, and over 30 years in the health and fitness industry, Merritt Athletic Clubs is the most complete fitness organization in Maryland. More than 150 years old and played by over 20 million people in 175 countries, squash has shown sustained growth at the junior level in the US. and was pronounced the #1 sport for getting and staying fit by a Forbes magazine study.

The US based Pro Squash Tour coordinates a tour with stops across the United States. The season begins in September and runs through April. For more information about the Baltimore Open, please visit www.ProSquashTour.net.

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