Pictured: Singles Champion Emiliana Arango is pictured with Dr. Amy Murrell and Tournament Director Rob Hill during the trophy presentation for the McLeod for Health Florence Open.

The McLeod for Health Florence Open concluded on Sunday, October 17, with the finals in the Singles Championship. During the seven-day tournament, McLeod Health raised awareness of breast cancer and physical activity as a sponsor of the USTA women’s professional tennis tournament benefitting Susan G. Komen South Carolina.

Several McLeod Physicians supported the tournament including Dr. Amy Murrell and Dr. Rodney Alan (Tournament Physician). Dr. Murrell also represented McLeod Health during closing ceremonies of the singles championship and doubles championship.

Colombian Emiliana Arango won the 2021 McLeod for Health Florence Open Singles Final beating number one seed Xiyu Wang. On Saturday, Emily Appleton and Yuriko Miyazaki representing Great Britain and Japan won the Doubles Final against number two seeds Robin Anderson and Elysia Bolton of USA.

Vicki Davis, PharmD, and Dr. Murrell’s daughters also qualified to play in this year’s tournament. Allie Murrell and McKenzie Davis attend Trinity Collegiate School and have both played in the Pro-Am of the event in years past. On Monday, October 11, Allie was pleased to score her first professional victory during the tournament. A College-Am event was also held on October 14 featuring players from Francis Marion University and Charleston Southern University. Playing on behalf of McLeod Health were Dr. Karim Tazi, Dr. Rodney Alan and Grace Murrell.

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.