As of Saturday evening, a field of 38 players were entered into the seventh annual Bob Symon Memorial Handball Tournament, which will be held at the YMCA courts January 4, 5, and 6.

Deadline for entries has been set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the YMCA, when Jon Symon of Kansas City will be present to initiate the tournament draw (which will be be completed on Thursday). Several more local entries are expected before the deadline.

Of the entries to this point, five are in open singles, 30 in contenders singles, one in master singles and two in open doubles. The longest distance entries are two - from Arizona.

The field also includes players from Des Moines, Topeka, St. Louis, Omaha, Whiteman AFB, Beatrice, Neb. and some 20 players from the Kansas City metropolitan area and surrounding suburbs. St. Joseph is expected to have eight entries in the field.

The Symon event should be hotly contested, considering there will be some sizable cash awards for the winners. In open singles $600 will go to the champion and $300 to the runnerup. Cash prizes for open doubles are $300 and $150. The contenders singles champ will receive $100. Trophies will also be awarded in all divisions of play.