Bardmoor finishes doubles on strong note

The women at Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club think good things come in threes. The players collected a championship in the Suncoast Ladies Doubles, Racqueteers and Pinellas Area Doubles leagues.

"We were somewhat lucky, plus we have some of the best women players in the area," Bardmoor tennis director Maria Cercone said.

"A lot of the women work on their game," she said. "They practically all take some kind of clinic, and I think they like that winning tradition."

In the Suncoast league, comprised of 14 squads from Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, Bardmoor dominated the A and B standings.

In addition to being first in the fall and spring A team standings, Bardmoor was tops in the fall and second in the spring B team and first in overall competition in the spring and fall.

Bardmoor finished first overall in A, B and combined sessions.

Bardmoor's A squad included Cercone and Sue Gutierrez defending the No. 1 position, Nancy Harper and Joy Ackerman, Cari Reagin and Judith Sly, Hazel Barclay and Micki Gelestor, captain Kay Caldwell and Julie Papalardo, Laura Rustin and Mary Jane Evertz and Sue Michelman and Sylvia Hagerman.

On the B team were Siljivia Winkler and Donna Francis, Caryl Broaderick and Vicki Smith, Nancy Brown and Libby Elliott, Linda Porter and Jeanne Jacoby, Liz Dunlop and Nancee Slattery, Rhonda Thompson and Jan Zimmerman and Buffy Marston and Kay Rowland.

Bardmoor collected 271 points in the 26-week Suncoast league. Harbor Island (230) was second, followed by the Racquet Club, fifth; East Lake, sixth; Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club, seventh; Countryside, 11th; and Royal Racquet Club, 12th.

"Last year was our first in Racqueteers and we finished 13th," Bardmoor captain Jacki Simon said.

"This year, we were first. That's pretty awesome. All our teams were pretty close and won most of their matches."

Angie Lincicome and Erika Boardman won 29 of 30 matches in the No. 3 slot, Simon and Liz Proctor 26 at No. 5, Hagerman and Pat Bellcourt 25 at No. 4 and Beth Miller and Esther Gonzalez 23 at No. 6.

Rounding out the team are Carol Whaley and Merrilee Miller (No. 1) and Elsie Anderlik and Kaye Dobecki (No. 2).

Finishing second behind Bardmoor was Luv Breakers, last year's champion. Following were Royal Racquets, Dunedin, Royal Roadrunners, Kourt Kats, Match Makers and East Lake I and McMullen, which tied for eighth.

The PADL championship came down to the final match, said two-time Bardmoor captain Joann Huebner, with Bardmoor and Racquet Club I tied with 95 points.

"We happened to win our last match 5-0, and the Racquet Club I lost 4-1," Huebner said. "That's what made the difference.

"We had a great team, and all supported one another," she said. "Every team did pretty well, plus we had a strong alternate team in Laura Rustin and Jayne Lewis."

Caldwell and Harper played No. 1, Anderlik and Evertz No. 2, Boardman and Lincicome No. 3, Thompson and Zimmerman No. 4 and Huebner and Jo-Ann Westafer No. 5.

Placing third in the 26-team league was Royal Racquet II. Following were Countryside II, Treasure Island I, Feather Sound, Countryside I, East Lake I, Vinoy I, and Seminole Lake Tennis Center, 10th.

NET NOTES: The South Pinellas Ladies Doubles League starts today at the 3.0-3.5 and 3.5-4.0 levels. An additional 3.0-3.5 slot is available. For information, call 867-9105.

Top-seeded Anthony Barrancotto of St. Pete Beach defeated Matthew Dias of Ponte Vedra to win the boys 10-and-under title in last month's Timuquana Spring Clay Court Championships in Jacksonville.

Treasure Island's Brett Apter was a consolation finalist in the boys 14 division of the Junior Clay Court Championships last month at Hunter's Green in Tampa. Mackenzie Gerlach of Belleair was the girls 16 consolation finalist.

Saturday is Tennis Across America Day. USPTA-certified teaching professionals are offering free clinics. To locate an area clinic, go online towww.uspta.com.

USA LEAGUE: In the past few weeks of women's competition, Bardmoor's 3.5 Blue squad defeated Feather Sound 5-0 to capture the lead among six teams. Innisbrook is unbeaten in the 3.5 Red division. Feather Sound's 3.5 White squad and Phil Green Tennis Academy's 4.0 team are undefeated. McMullen is 4-0 in 4.5 play, and the club has a slight edge in 3.0.

On the men's side, McMullen is first in the 3.0 division. TI Rec is unbeaten in 3.5 South, as is the Vinoy in 3.5 Central. Royal Racquet Club overtook the top position in the 3.5 North standings. Two Seminole Lake Tennis Center squads have dominated their 4.0 divisions. The PGTA team is 9-0 in 4.5.

BEGINNING SATURDAY: The Racquet Club of St. Petersburg will play host to Florida's only qualifying event for the Little Mo Tournament. The qualifier continues through Monday.

The Little Mo is the only national tourney for girls and boys 8-11. For information, call the club, 527-6553.

The Clay Court Championships at Arbor Greene Fitness and Athletic Club feature men's and women's age-division singles and doubles and mixed doubles.

For information, call Alan Williams, (813) 962-4253.

COMING UP: A Mixed Doubles Tournament will be played May 18-19 at Isla Del Sol Golf and Country Club. NTRP levels 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 are scheduled, with consolation matches for first-round losers. For information, call 906-ISLA. ... The 12th annual Morton Plant Mease Memorial Day Tournament is scheduled for May 24-27 at East Lake Woodlands. Men's, women's and mixed doubles in 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and open divisions will be offered. Call 785-2212. ... A Suncoast Singles League for women at 3.5-and-below is forming for the summer. Call 585-9221.

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