Proceeds to benefit Susan G. Komen South Carolina
The McLeod for Health Florence Open will be held October 11 through 17 at the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center. Florence’s only professional tennis tournament, made possible by the partnership between McLeod Health and the City of Florence, helps raise awareness of breast cancer and physical activity through the tournament, which benefits Susan G. Komen South Carolina.
Not only does the professional tennis tournament raise funds for local benefit, it draws nearly 60 of the world’s best women players to town. The USTA Pro Circuit features competitive matches between tennis’s rising athletes. The 2018 McLeod for Health Florence Open winner Bianca Andreescu went on to win the 2019 US Open defeating Serena Williams in the final.
“Florence residents have a great opportunity to come out and see several of the sport’s future stars. These ladies are playing at a very high level. Nothing illustrates that more than Andreescu winning the US Open,” adds Rob Hill, Tournament Director.
Players will be competing for ranking points and a $25,000 purse. As one of the smallest cities on the USTA Pro Circuit, Florence was selected to host the event because of its world-class courts, strong volunteer base, and the generosity of its sponsors.
The McLeod for Health Florence Open will feature a 32-draw qualifying round, a 32-draw main round and a college-am event. Qualifying rounds begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 11. Feature matches will be held daily throughout the week at noon. The doubles finals and singles semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, October 16, and the singles finals will be held on Sunday, October 17.
The public is encouraged to come out to enjoy matches daily. Wrapping up the tournament is the singles final match and trophy presentation on Sunday afternoon. All matches are free and open to the public.
The Florence Open tournament formed an alliance in 2014 with McLeod Health and Susan G. Komen South Carolina to help support the fight against breast cancer in the region. McLeod Health, the tournament’s presenting sponsor, is deeply committed to the early identification and treatment of breast cancer, and Susan G. Komen South Carolina has provided significant funding to regional programs, including grants totaling more than $400,000 dollars to support breast cancer programs and patients at McLeod Health. Among other things, these grants have been used for mammograms, follow-up diagnostic procedures, patient navigation services, and survivor support services, including transportation.
In 2020, representatives with McLeod for Health Florence Open presented its 2019 profits — a total of $9,000 — to Susan G. Komen South Carolina to help fight breast cancer in northeastern region of South Carolina. Over the last seven years, the McLeod for Health Florence Open has raised more than $60,000 for Susan G. Komen South Carolina.
