SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The 39th Annual Lewis Drug Pro/Am opened at Sioux Falls area health clubs today.
The longest running racquetball tournament in the country features the top players in the men's professional International Racquetball Tour. They are competing on the two stadium courts at the Sioux Falls Family YMCA on South Minnesota Avenue.
The courts were constructed a year-and-a-half ago as a donation from Lewis Drug CEO Mark Griffin and President and CEO of Howalt McDowell Insurance Jeff Scherschligt, along with other supporters.
Griffin says 15 to 20 players competed in the first tournament at the YMCA. He says racquetball was just starting to become popular going from wooden racquets, to aluminum and eventually carbon. He say today the tournament can't accept anymore players, the draw is full.
He says it was 15 years ago that the tournament integrated with the professionals. The Lewis tournament is now on the IRT's stop. Griffin says there are typically 25 to 30 touring pros, all the top players in the world.
The Lewis Pro/Am tournament features professional players, amateurs, spectators and more than 20,000 online viewers from around the world at IRTNetwork.com
The tournament runs through Sunday.