A record field will contest the Fi Innovations Southland Open squash tournament on July 16 and 17.

Hosted by Invercargill’s Squash City, the 120-strong field has doubled in size from last year’s Open held in Gore, following a combined effort by the Squash Southland board and staff to raise the profile of the event.

The 2019 event had a 40-strong field.

The introduction of a new major sponsor and 11 grade sponsors has helped boost the purse to $1000 for both the men’s and women’s Open winners.

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More than 40 entries are from out of Southland; including participants from Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Central Otago.

Fifteen divisions will contest a total of 180 matches across two venues - Squash City and ILT Stadium Southland.

Defending champions Anna O’Connor and Mitchell Kempton, both of Invercargill, are returning as top seeds.

Squash NZ chief executive Martin Dowson will not only be competing in the event but will present a hui to clubs about the new Squash NZ Strategic Plan on Friday.