St. Petersburg delivers championship

Since St. Petersburg Country Club tennis director Sam Vuille developed the South Pinellas Ladies Doubles League in 1996, his club's players wanted to win him a championship.

After nearly seven years of league play, with each year including three seasons, the club delivered.

"We have been so close for so many times, but we could never pull it off," SPCC team captain Mary Pat Howley said. "We worked hard this year and really wanted to win it."

Eight teams competed in the 3.5 to 4.0 division of the South Pinellas weekly doubles fall league beginning in September. The top four teams faced off in a playoff series beginning last month.

Treasure Island Rec finished first with nine overall points in the regular season, SPCC eight, the Renaissance Vinoy seven and Shipwatch Blue six.

Treasure Island led by a point heading into the last round of the playoffs, facing SPCC for the title.

"We knew that if we lost both courts to TI Rec, we would lose again, just like last year to Feather Sound," Howley said.

"If we split, then we would be tied. If we wanted to win, we had to win both courts. We did."

Defending the top spot were Sue Carter and Vicki Smith. Shirley Omlor and Deb Tuthill carried the second court position. Both teams won in straight sets.

Carter and Smith beat Liz Gaffney and Sue Best and Omlor and Tuthill defeated Margaret Tseng and Lesley Siemens.

Carter has played the No. 1 spot since she began in the league.

"I don't think I've missed playing but two matches since I started," Carter said. "I felt like we needed to bring home the plaque for Sam because he's done such a good job with this league."

Carter played with Smith for the first time and felt their combined left-handed forehands complemented one another.

"I actually had played regularly with Mary Wolf before she injured a hand and needed to have surgery," Carter said. Tuthill, who played mostly as a substitute, paired with Omlor for the playoff.

Tuthill's net play combined with Omlor's back-court style and half-court pickups for a winning combination.

Rounding out the team were regular fill-ins Carol Humphries and Cheryl Gargle. Wolfe, Howley said, was an important factor before her injury.

"We were on a winning mission to begin with," Carter said. "We had only lost two matches all season and those were to TI Rec. We were apprehensive about facing them again."

TI Rec captain Gillian McDonnell praised the St. Petersburg club.

"They definitely had the edge," McDonnell said.

"The matches were all competitive, but they were a step ahead of us. We've been there before and, now, we're even more eager than ever for the next round to begin."

The next South Pinellas season begins Jan. 15. Call Vuille, 867-9105.

NET SHOTS: Tuthill won her first St. Petersburg Country Club singles championship with a three-set win over Vicki Smith.

-- Pinellas players dominated the K-Swiss 2002 Fall Singles Championships.

Area players won seven of the 10 women's divisions and five of the 11 men's.

Maria Drew won the women's 5.5 in three sets while Pam Tushaus (3.5-minus), Debbie Moyer (3.5), Joann Cowherd (4.0-minus), Jean Cantu (4.0), Teresa Lawrence (4.5) and Julie McGuire (5.0) won in straight sets.

Among the men, Stacy Gertsch and Dave Biren scored three-set victories and Vern Wilson (4.0), Mark Mumaw (4.5) and Greg Montesanti (5.5) won in two.

-- No. 3 seed Chris Kucharski won the boys 14-and-under singles title in the Christmas Classic at Seminole Lakes Racquet Club.

Rebecca Bodine scored a victory in the girls 10 and as did Stephen Segura in the boys 18. Desiree Colins in the girls 18 and Geoffrey Gilchrist in the boys 16 finished second.

-- Ben Kronk defended his top seeding in the men's open division of the Holiday Classic at the Phil Green Tennis Academy.

Nick Bourg and Steve Talner were round-robin winners in the 35-and-over and 45 divisions, respectively.

-- Morgan Basil won the Little Mo National Championship in the girls 10 division.

LEAGUE LEADERS: As women's weekly leagues wind down for the holiday break, leaders have emerged.

Defending Racqueteers champion Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club is first with 152 points in the 16-team league, followed by a tie between Luv Breakers and Royal Racquets with 128. Dunedin is next with 127.

This week's matches conclude the league's first half.

Bardmoor is first in the Suncoast Singles League, followed by Southwest. Eight teams compete in the five-position singles league.

The Aces are front-runners in the Advantage Ladies Tennis League with 59 points. Dunedin (52) has a makeup match next week in the nine-team league.

Royal Racquet II has taken over the top spot in the Pinellas Area Doubles League with 59 points.

The Racquet Club (48) is second in the 27-squad league. Bardmoor III and Countryside I are deadlocked in third with 46.

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