The Maryland Club in Baltimore marked its exciting return to the squash scene with the first major event since the pandemic, featuring $15,000 in equal prize money for both men’s and women’s draws. Over the course of three days, the club’s renowned three-court facility hosted intense pro and pro-am competition, all expertly organized by Racquets Director Andrew Cordova and Head Squash Pro Mark Price. The event brought together top talent and thrilling matchups, setting the stage for a memorable weekend of squash.
In the women’s draw, top seeds Kayley Leonard and Maria Elena Ubina led the competition, with Georgina Stoker and Nikki Todd seeded second. The first semifinal was a nail-biter, as Leonard and Ubina just managed to edge out Suzanna Pierrepont and rising star Katie Tutrone in a match that went down to the wire. Tutrone, whose sharp shot selection was on full display, has shown she’s a player to watch this season, making her mark despite the loss.
In the second women’s semifinal, veteran tour players Narelle Krizek and Steph Hewitt took on Georgina Stoker and Nikki Todd in an exciting four-game contest. Krizek, renowned for her brilliant shot-making and as the founder of the original women’s doubles tour—now part of the SDA—delighted the crowd with her skill. However, it was Stoker and Todd who ultimately prevailed, securing a 3-1 victory.
The men’s draw provided equally exciting action. In the first semifinal, top seeds Ashley Davies and Lockie Munro made quick work of Henry Parkhurst and Carter Robitaille, winning in straight games as their opponents struggled with too many errors. However, the real drama unfolded in the second semifinal, where John White and Dave Letourneau faced off against Sam Fenwick and Chris Longman in one of the most thrilling matches ever seen at the Maryland Club. White and Letourneau found themselves down two games, losing both by the narrowest of margins—15-14—before saving a match ball in the third game. From there, the momentum shifted in their favor as they stormed through the fourth game. The fifth and final game looked to be in Fenwick and Longman’s hands as they held a 14-11 lead, but White and Letourneau saved match point after match point, ultimately snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Riding the high of their semifinal comeback, White and Letourneau brought that momentum into the final, where they faced Davies and Munro. After taking a tight first game 15-12, they never let the top seeds find their rhythm, sealing the win and the title in a decisive performance.
The return of squash to the Maryland Club was met with enthusiasm from players and fans alike, especially with the introduction of a new format that offered equal prize money for men and women. With this successful event now in the books, attention shifts to March 2025, when the Maryland Club will host the prestigious US Nationals, promising even more exciting squash action in the near future.