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© St. Petersburg Times, published April 24, 2002
The second session of the South Pinellas Men's Doubles League concluded with two division champions. Isla Del Sol Country Club's B team won the 3.0-3.5 division and Seminole Lake Tennis Center the 3.5-4.0.
Finishing second in both divisions were squads from Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club. The D team was second in 3.0-3.5, the C squad in 3.5-4.0.
Isla and Seminole finished in a deadlock with other teams in the first session. Each pulled ahead of its competition in the second. Seven squads played in 3.5-4.0, five in 3.0-3.5.
"We had a good time, and that's what it's all about," said Bob Curtis, Isla's two-time captain. "Sam Vuille at Lakewood has done an excellent job putting this together, and Kevin Quay at our club has gotten involved as well."
Joining Curtis on the two-position doubles team at Isla are Way Dong Woo, Tom Gaffney, Glenn Phillips, Bob Frye and John Amodeo.
Seminole's squad was led by captain Mike Parker and included Lou Motko, Andria Cakarnis and Hank Houser.
Runner-up to Isla in 3.0-3.5 was the TI D team with Jack Frieder as captain.
"This has been a wonderful league for us in South Pinellas, and it is developing into something quite popular," Frieder said.
Frieder's squad included Harry Greenwald, Bill Hadley, George Gessler, Joe Petrella, Don Fisher, Ira King, Tim Tyler, Rich Prestera, Ernie McKenzie and Ken Mayhall.
Second in 3.5-4.0 was TI's C team -- captain John Rensch and players Bob Rogers, Hank McCusker, Chuck Imhoff, Earl Concourse, Ken Singleton and Len Mewhinney.
The next league begins May 11. There's a $20 team registration fee. Call 867-9105.
MIXED DOUBLES: Last weekend's USA League Tennis Senior State Tournament involved area teams Westin Innisbrook Resort 6.5, Royal Racquet Club 7.5 and Phil Green Tennis Academy 8.5. Fort Myers won 6.5 among nine teams, Pensacola 7.5 among 12, Nokomis 8.5 among six. Competition begins Friday for the adult state tournament. Representing the area are Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club (7.5) and McMullen Tennis Center (8.5). Traveling to the Palm Coast area Thursday for Bardmoor will be acting captain Erika Boardman, Bob Simister, Nancy and Robert Skrok, Marolyn and Morris Horne, Eva and Mike Collins and Madeline and Jerry Zawadski. McMullen's squad includes mixed teams captain Anh Thu Banks and Mike Carrigan, Jane Robinson and Tony Crouch, Joan Simmons and Clark Higgs, Rachael Sanchez and Dave Gunn and Elizabeth Leigh and David Bjornson.
ADULT LEAGUE: Bardmoor and Feather Sound Country Club continue their race in the women's 3.5 Blue division in USA League Tennis. Last weekend, Bardmoor defeated St. Petersburg Tennis Center 5-0 and Feather Sound beat Renaissance Vinoy 4-1. Bardmoor and Feather Sound raised their records to 5-0. Saturday, the two teams square off at Feather Sound. Winning for Bardmoor were Cheryl Briske and Beth Miller, in No. 1 and No. 2 singles, respectively, and Boardman and Angela Lincicome (No. 1 doubles), Liz Dunlop and Skrok and Jo-Ann Westafer and Elizabeth Truxal. Feather Sound's Katie Chappell (No. 1 singles) and Charlotte Wheeler (No. 2) joined doubles teams Brenda Dannewitz and Marilyn Quackenbush and Deb Thompson and Barbara Dolson in scoring four wins. In men's competition, the Racquet Club won its second match in the 4.5 with a 4-1 decision over East Lake Woodlands. Winning were Jeff Sprague (No. 1 singles), Mitchell Lee and Brett Hayman (No. 1 doubles), Bill Young and Todd Meyers and John Mcquillen and Mike Williams. The victory improved the Racquet Club's record to 2-3. Seminole (7-1) posted a 4-1 win over East Lake in 4.0 Blue on the play of Chris Rivera (No. 2 singles), Leo Leonardi and Jon Bean (No. 1 doubles), Andris Cakarnis and Mike Parker and Tim Kahle and Mauro Rodriguez. The Renaissance Vinoy 3.5 team in the Central division maintained its unblemished record with a 3-2 victory against Phil Green Tennis Academy. Richard Knipe (No. 1 singles) and Terry Brett collected two points for the Vinoy, and Gottlieb Keller and Paul Haggar (No. 1 doubles) added a third.
CLUB CHAMPIONS: St. Petersburg Country Club had its championships this month for men's and women's doubles. Five-time singles club champ Frederic Guerrier teamed with Jim Cashmore to win the A division three-team round-robin. It was the second consecutive club doubles title for Guerrier. Ernie Frierson and Doug Tuthill were second. The father-son squad of Stephen and Stephen Bussey defeated Barry Gervais and Jerry Lehmkuhl for the B division crown. In women's doubles, Mary Bostwick and Sue Carter defeated Deborah Tuthill and Mary Wolfe in the final.
NET NOTES: Michael Erbe of Seminole was a 35-and-older finalist in the Spring Classic at Phil Green Tennis Academy in Safety Harbor.
Rich Bruer extended 55 top seed Jay Parker of Longboat Key to a three-set final. Parker won 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Subir Mukerejea was a finalist in the 45 division of the state-sanctioned event.
Lindsay Dvorak reached the quarterfinal round of the girls 12-and-under singles competition in the USTA National Open Championships. Boys 16 No. 2 seed George Navas fell in the final to No. 1 Stephen Shao of Tennessee, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 1-0 (5). Navas was a finalist in doubles with partner Eric Fleming of Massachusetts.
In last weekend's SPTC Juniors Easter Classic at St. Petersburg Tennis Center, Kaela Kennedy was a finalist in the girls 18, as was Amanda Becker in 16 and Kara Kucin in 10. Philippe Novikov won the 10 consolation title. Autin Kondor was tops in 12.
COMING UP: The Junior Clay Court Championships are Saturday-Monday at Hunters Green Country Club. For information, call (813) 973-4220. ... The South Pinellas Ladies Doubles League begins May 7. Call 867-9105. ... The Clay Court Championships are May 11-13 at Arbor Greene Fitness and Athletic Club. Men's and women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles are available. Call (813) 962-4253. ... The Racquet Club of St. Petersburg will play host May 11-13 to Florida's only qualifying event for the Little Mo Tournament, the only national for girls and boys 8-11.