NSW SQUASH OPEN

June 11-13, 2005

MEDIA RELEASE

IN-FORM BROWN AIMS FOR FIRST NSW OPEN CROWN  

Rising squash star Kasey Brown, who celebrated her maiden WISPA title at the recent WA Open in Perth , will be favourite to win her first NSW Open crown in Sydney this weekend.  

The 19-year-old from Taree in NSW will take on the unseeded Sarah Rollans in the first round and is seeded to tackle Dutch second seed Karen Kronemeyer in Sunday’s final. The top two seeds’ toughest competition is expected to come from Jemma Saxby from Coffs Harbour on the NSW central coast and Stacey Sephton from Ambarvale in NSW.  

Brown is targetting a place in the Australian team at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and success at state championships will be a boost to her chances.  

The five members of the Australian team named for the world junior women’s championship in Belgium next month will all be striving for success at the NSW Open and will be eager to upset the likes of world No.34 Brown and world No.51 Kronemeyer.  

It is ideal preparation for Peta Hughes and Kasey Sinclair from Queensland , Donna Urquhart from NSW, and Victorians Vanessa Pickerd and Jessica Gillett, who will then fly to New Zealand for a three-test series against the Kiwis as further preparation for the worlds.  

Sydney ’s former Australian Open champion Jan Miller is the only player in the field to have won a NSW Open title and the veteran is expected to create a few problems for the youngsters. She opens with a first round clash against Saxby. 

Men’s top seed and world No.64 Tim Manning from Canberra opens his account against the unseeded Whalora Moeke and is scheduled to meet Jeff Bond of Sydney in the final. However, they are likely to face a strong challenge from Sydney duo Luke Hillier and Matthew Karwalski.  

Last year’s winners, NSW’s Cameron Pilley and Victoria ’s Amelia Pittock, will not be defending their titles.  

The NSW Open will be played at the Thornleigh NSW Squash and Fitness Centre, with both the semi-finals and finals to be played on Sunday.  

For further information contact:  

Gordon Dexter

Media Liaison Officer

Squash Australia

Phone: 07 3206 2587

Mob: 0423 834 948