Grayson Raises Local Hopes In Auckland Open

New Zealander Campbell Grayson increased the local representation in the Five Star Finance Auckland Open by 50% when he made it through today's qualifying finals of the PSA Tour event at the North Shore Squash Club in Takapuna, New Zealand.

The 20-year-old Aucklander beat Japan's Yasunori Ishiwata 11-7, 11-10 (3-1), 11-9 in 43 minutes to join Roger Ngan from Hong Kong and Australians Ryan Cuskelly and Scott Arnold in the main draw.

Cuskelly's celebrations may be a little muted, however, having drawn England's world number 25 Jonathan Kemp, the top seed, in the first round. Scott Arnold has been handed a first up match against fifth-seeded kiwi Kashif Shuja, while Grayson faces sixth-seeded Aussie Simon Carruthers and Roger Ngan is up against third seed Wai Hang Wong, also from Hong Kong.

Qualifying finals:
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Sam Atkins (NZL) 11-7, 11-5, 6-11, 11-2 (53m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Yasunori Ishiwata (JPN) 11-7, 11-10 (3-1), 11-9 (43m)
Roger Ngan (HKG) bt Joshua Greenfield (NZL) 11-8, 11-10 (5-3), 11-5 (39m)
Scott Arnold (AUS) bt Dick Lau (HKG) 11-5, 11-10 (2-0), 4-11, 11-6 (41m)