Last weekend's Humane Society Charity Tennis Tournament set milestones for the event, the players and the benefactors.
It was the 10th year of the men's, women's and mixed doubles event, a record number of players competed and the North Pinellas facility received its highest earnings.
Since its inception, the event has been staged at Royal Racquet Club in Clearwater. This year, more than 250 players entered at least one of 11 divisions and more than 30 competed in two.
"It will take a couple of weeks before we'll have the final amount in, but we have definitely surpassed our profit from years past," tournament chairwoman Judy Foster said. "Our best guess right now is $16,000 that we can give the Humane Society. That's up about $2,500 from last year."
Among the winners in women's doubles were Lisa Moyers and her sister, Gemma Bressoud, of Orange Park in the 25-team 3.5 division. In the final, they defeated Susan Nix and Fumi Toyotake 6-3, 7-5.
"In the last few years, we've tried to play a couple of tournaments together a year," Moyers said. "Since we're sisters, we know where we're coming from and don't have to hold anything back."
Other winners in women's action were Julie Anderson and Jacqui Davis with a three-set victory over Joyce Cooper and Holly Verplank in the 11-team 3.0 division. Darla Guthrie and Theresa Lawrence fought past St. Petersburg's Diana Gabay and Theresa Ross 6-3, 6-3 for the 4.0 title.
Three of the four men's doubles winners were determined before the end of the weekend. Champions are Joe Bailey and Bob Barry in the 3.0, Steve Loomis and Tom Johnson in 3.5 and Andy Fernandez and Mauro Rodriguez in 4.0.
Seminole's Michael Erbe and partner Steve Baccich were scheduled to play Palm Harbor's Mark Taylor and Jim Dundee on Tuesday night for the 4.5 title.
"It will be a battle and a good match, that's certain," Erbe said. "This is Steve's and my first time to play as a team, and so far it's worked pretty well."
Mixed doubles winners included Vicky Tuller and Les Spang in 3.5, Tampa's Liz Leigh and Dave Bjornson in 4.5 and Rachael Sanchez and Taylor in 5.0.
Tuller, who also played women's doubles with Wendy Clark in the 4.0, teamed with Spang and finished ahead of 21 teams in the mixed.
"This is my second time in this tournament and I really like the event," Tuller said. "I used to work in an animal shelter when I lived in Orange Park.
"I just happened to mention the tournament to Les and we decided to play as a team. It worked out."
Spang agreed.
"I usually play men's doubles, rather than mixed. This was my first time in the mixed, although I've played in the tournament a number of years," Spang said. "The pace is different in mixed from men's and the points last longer. It was good tennis."
A match was scheduled between Mary Jane Evertz and Tim Kahle and Gabay and Ron Bedlack on Tuesday to determine the mixed 4.0 winner.
Division winners, runners-up and consolation winners qualify for the Tournament of Champions Dec. 12-14 at Shipwatch.
NET SHOTS: Top seed Jeff Chambers lost just nine games in four matches to win the men's 35-and-over Florida State Championship last weekend in Daytona Beach. In the final, the former North Carolina All-American beat No. 3 Adam Zastempowski of Nokomis 6-0, 6-1.
Area players traveled to Philadelphia last month to compete in the USTA 45 and 50 National Grass Court Championships. In the 45, No. 9 Jeff Winkler reached the quarterfinals in singles and finished third in doubles with Kenny House of North Carolina. No. 5 Van Gladfelter advanced to the round of 16 and No. 6 Kevin Manning lost to the top seed in the quarterfinals.
In the 50 division, No. 6 Gewan Maharaj reached the quarterfinals in singles and was fourth in doubles. Alex Deeb played to the round of 32.
Morgan Basil (girls 16), Danielle Collins (12), Austin Kondor (boys 12) and Philip Barlow (16) defended their top seedings in this month's TPA Winter Classic at Seminole Lake Tennis Center. No. 2 Julia Sikorski won the girls 10.
Finalists were Caitlein Jammo (girls 16), No. 3 Ashley Hungerford (14), Julianne Gruber (12), Amy Lowther (10), Joel Samaha (16) and Alexander Saltiel (10). Peter Barr won the 14 consolation.
No. 2 seed Robert Perry won the boys 12 singles in last weekend's East Lake Junior Fall Rookie Tournament in Palm Harbor.
Drop-in tennis for men in the 3.5-and-above NTRP skill is available on Saturdays at the Largo Tennis Center. Call (727) 403-8588.
THIS WEEKEND: The SPTC Adult Classic Championships start Saturday at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center. Call Al Sarmiento, (727) 360-2643, today to enter.
COMING UP: Shipwatch Tennis Club is hosting a Cash Back Tournament Oct. 4-5 in 7.0 and 8.0 mixed doubles. Cost per player is $25, with the first-place team receiving $200 and the second $50 in both divisions. For information, call 596-6862.
The 20th Annual Raymond James Pro/Am Tennis Tournament to benefit All Children's Hospital is Oct. 11-12 at the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club. Call Ed Setaro, (727) 360-8796, for information.
