Atlanta, GA, WPH Press- Entry for the pro divisions are now closed for this event!
The WPH Race 4 Eight Tour Powered by ESPN is thrilled to return to Atlanta for the fourth time since 2012 to host the 2019 e4 Design/ Ron Cook Memorial Open & WPH Race 4 Eight Professional Handball Tour (Season 9) Stop #1 at the RecreationATL, located at 754 Beaver Ruin, Rd., Lilburn, GA 30047 from October 4-6, 2019.
The 2019 e4 Design/ Ron Cook Memorial Open & R48 9 Stop #1 is the first ESPN stop of the 2019/20 R48 season and 58th Race 4 Eight event since the start of the tour in 2011. “The Race 4 Eight tour has provided our sport with a tremendous boost in the past eight years,” stated co-R48 tour administrator David Fink. “From broadcasting more than 25 events on ESPN3 since 2014 to inspiring hundreds of new players from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Ireland, the Race 4 Eight has truly galvanized our great game.”
Stop #1 will showcase the game’s top professional players, as well as a deep qualifier draw, featuring players from California, Arizona, Minnesota, Tennessee, Georgia, New York, and Ireland. Seven qualifier slots will be available in Atlanta, as Ireland’s Niall O’Connor grabbed the eighth spot by pre-qualifying at Pittsburgh’s WPH RFC R48 Pre Qualifier. Top local and regional players will also compete in the e4 Design/ Ron Cook Memorial Open amateur singles and doubles brackets.
E4 sponsored and R48 #4 pro Lucho Cordova (MEX) will enter the 2019 stop as the defending champion, as Lucho overcame R48 #1 Killian Carroll (IRE) and younger brother Danos Cordova (GA) to win his maiden Race 4 Eight title at last year’s e4 Ron Cook. Carroll will be seeking his second championship at the RecreationATL (2017), while e4’s R48 #3 Danos Cordova will aim to improve upon his runner-up finish at the 2018 e4 Ron Cook to hoist his third Race 4 Eight title. Elite 8 R48 stars Sean Lenning (WA), David Fink (AZ), Vic Perez (CA), Marcos Chavez (CA), and Emmett Peixoto (CA) will join Carroll and the “Flying Cordovas” at the RecreationATL this October, as each top star will be targeting a fast start to his 2019/20 Race 4 Eight campaign.
“This event will kick off the ninth WPH R48Pro Season and will bring in players from around the globe,” stated WPH Executive Director Dave Vincent. “Come join us as a player, fan or spectator in one of the most family-friendly venues in all of Handball. The entry is open to the public now and is highlighted by divisions for Women, Juniors, Amateurs, Elite Pros, Skilled, Age Division; Singles, Doubles; Small Ball 4 Wall!”
To watch the action from Atlanta live on the Watch ESPN App starting on Saturday, October 5 and 10 am EST, go HERE
More information & to enter the Ron Cook Peachtree Open/R48 9 Stop #1 HERE (However, Deadline has Passed as of 2pm Central on Monday, Sept 30th)
WPH RACE 4 EIGHT: The World Players of Handball’s 2019/20 Race 4 Eight 9 Powered by ESPN features R48 stops in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Oregon, Montana, Louisiana, Texas, New York, Texas, California, and Utah, all culminating with The Player’s Championship in Utah in May of 2020. Similar to Nascar’s Nextel Cup and the FedEx PGA Playoffs, players earn points in the Race 4 Eight’s regular season stops to qualify for the season-ending Player’s Championship and bonus prizes.
For more information on the WPH Race 4 Eight, please contact World Players of Handball Executive Director David Vincent at dave.vincent@wphlive.tv or World Players of Handball Development Director David Fink at david.fink@wphlive.tv. For more information on the World Players of Handball, please visit wphlive.tv
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