• Record 122 players competed in Southland Open squash tournament.
  • Keidah Bungard and Aria Bannister won the men’s and women’s open finals.
  • Nearly $10,000 in prize money awarded across 16 grades.

The Southland Open squash event in Invercargill saw Geraldine’s Keidah Bungard and Dunedin’s Aria Bannister emerge as champions over the weekend. A record field of 122 players participated in the two-day tournament, sponsored by fi innovations.

Four years since its relaunch, the Southland Open continues to grow in popularity. This year’s event, held at Squash City and ILT Stadium Southland, saw a slight increase from last year’s record attendance. “We were very happy with how everything played out after weeks of planning. There were excellent entry numbers from all over the lower South Island under what has been a tough start to the season for most tournaments,” said Squash Southland district manager Bruce Thirkell.

A total of 178 matches were played, with only a few injury defaults. The tournament saw 45 matches going to four sets and 32 extending to five sets. Squash City’s Dean Laurie (Men’s C) and Fiordland Squash Club’s Jonatah Benatti (Men’s F) were notable as the lowest seeds to win their respective grades.

Top seed Keidah Bungard won the men’s open event on his third attempt, defeating second seed Regan McNaught in straight sets: 11-9, 11-4, 11-5. In a thrilling women’s open final, second-seeded Aria Bannister came back from two sets down to beat top seed Anna O’Connor: 3-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8. Both Bannister and O’Connor had recently returned to New Zealand after playing in the United States, with O’Connor arriving back just days before the tournament.

Bannister’s win was particularly emotional as she dedicated it to a school friend who had recently passed away in Dunedin. Both open final winners were awarded a $1000 prize, contributing to the nearly $10,000 in prize money distributed across the 16 grades.

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