Bostwick, Connor collaborate for title

Teamwork and communication between Mary Bostwick and Joe Connor resulted in a mixed doubles championship at the St. Petersburg Country Club.

On their first try in the club contest, the duo advanced three rounds to face Deborah and Doug Tuthill in the final. Although the result was a straight-set win, the competition and quality of play was intense, Bostwick said.

"It was such a good match and so much fun," Bostwick said. "We had so many really close points that came down to deuce.

"Joe and I work well together and communicate well," she said. "When one of us is off, the other picks up the slack until the other one comes around."

Bostwick began playing more than 20 years ago. Connor started when he was about 30. They met while living in the Atlanta area and became involved in the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association.

"I'm from Alabama and had not played very seriously until I moved to Atlanta," Connor said. "I entered at the ALTA C level because I was not very consistent. Living in a neighborhood where the players were better improved my game."

Bostwick's early involvement in a newcomers club resulted in her getting heavily involved in ALTA.

"I started tennis in the fall of 1979, and I was the worst player," Bostwick said. "I was so excited to learn, though, and took lessons at a club. Then, I signed up for ALTA." That's when Bostwick and Connor hooked up. By then, both were A players and their mates were B, so the two teams paired up for ALTA. After the death of Bostwick's husband and Connor's divorce, the two have teamed on and off the court the past four years.

"We had so much fun playing together and since we moved here, this was our first opportunity to play in a tournament," Connor said. "Mary plays the deuce court and stays back while I play aggressively at the net."

This weekend, Connor is playing in the club men's doubles championship with Bruce Keene. Bostwick, searching for a partner, hopes to compete in the women's championship.

SUPER SENIORS: The Phil Green Tennis Academy's 3.5 men's team claimed the championship Tuesday with a 3-0 win over St. Petersburg Tennis Center. Scoring straight-set victories were Richard Hough and Dick Lashley (No. 1), Fred Elflein and Willie Coquelet (No. 2), and captain Joe Gari and Glenn Merrer (No. 3.) To reach the final, SPTC defeated Westin Innisbrook Resort 2-1 and PGTA eliminated Shipwatch Tennis Club 3-0. Rounding out the PGTA squad are John Kuhn, Bill Schieman, David Wisotsky, Charles Hill, Woody Woodbury and Bob Berkstresser. It will represent the area in the state tournament.

SUPER SENIOR GRAND PRIX: St. Petersburg's Dave Krebs finished first in the men's 65-and-older singles and doubles (with Norman Fitz). Clearwater's Reinaldo Valor was the 55 singles winner, St. Petersburg's Bob Meyerdierks was runner-up in 75 singles, and Jim Vuille was third in the 90 division. Meyerdierks paired with Jim Mackey for first among the 75 doubles teams, and Bud Steckman and Allen Kline were third. Don Wray and Tom Avirett were second in 80 doubles.

LEAGUE UPDATES: Men's action heated up last weekend in USA League Tennis with Renaissance Vinoy taking the lead in the 3.5 Central division and Seminole Lake Tennis Center in the 4.0 Blue and 4.0 Red divisions. The Vinoy raised its record to 5-0 with a 4-1 win over Dunedin on the play of Terrence Brett (No. 1 singles), Bruce Sadler (No. 2), Gottlieb Keller and Paul Haggar (No. 1 doubles), and David Brett and David Calametti (No. 2). Seminole edged Royal Racquet Club 3-2 with victories by Michael Parker (No. 2 singles), Larry Daum and Andris Cakarnis (No. 2 doubles), and John Beda and Jim Johnson (No. 3). Seminole is in first with a 5-1 mark in the 4.0 Blue division. Seminole netted a clean sweep over the Racquet Club in the 4.0 Red Division to assume first at 5-1. Winning were Doug Allen and Richard Farci (singles), Gary Lucke and Isaac Vicente (No. 1 doubles), Don Kirby and Jim McCook (No. 2) and Mike Collins and Scott Chambers (No. 3).

In women's competition, Treasure Island Recreation improved itsrecord to 4-1 in the 3.5 White Division with a 3-2 win over Seminole last weekend. Bernadette Stevenson won in No. 2 singles for TI Rec, along with Brenda Freedland and Jerrie McCullough (No. 2 doubles) and Nancy Holdstein and Elizabeth Gaffney (No. 3). Yvette Bean won for the Racquet Club in No. 1 singles. Joanne Pearson and Dorothy Cox posted a victory in No. 1 doubles.

LITTLE MO: Planning is underway for the Racquet Club of St. Petersburg to play host to Florida's qualifying event for the Little Mo Tournament, the only national tourney for girls and boys 8-11. The 26-year-old Little Mo competition is scheduled for May 11-13 at the Racquet Club. The eight quarterfinalists in each age division advance to one of four regionals. Regional semifinalists qualify for the nationals. The program is sponsored by the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. In 1953, Connolly was the first woman to win the Grand Slam at the age of 18. An injury the next year ended her career. For information on the Little Mo, call 527-6553.

COMING UP: The SPTC Juniors Easter Classic, for girls and boys 18-and-under, is April 20-22 at St. Petersburg Tennis Center. For information, call Al Sarmiento, 360-2643. ... The Phil Green Tennis Academy will have its Spring Classic, for men in singles and doubles, April 19-21 at Safety Harbor Spa. Call Al Virgus, 724-7729. ... The Junior Clay Court Championships are April 27-29 at Hunter's Green Country Club. Call (813) 973-4220.

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