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Tennis

California holds promise of national title

By NANCY MORGAN
Published September 27, 2006

Anh Thu Burks of Land O'Lakes was a ranked junior player growing up in Ohio and always played tennis recreationally. She quit playing while in college and during grad school at Tulane. It wasn't until 1997 that she began playing again when she came to Florida.

In 2003, Burks captained a women's 4.5 adult team that finished second in the USTA National League Championships. This week, Burks is captain of a 5.0 adult squad based at McMullen in Clearwater that is headed to Palm Springs, Calif., for the USTA National League Championships.

McMullen's 5.0 women's squad of five is among 16 in the hard court competition scheduled Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

McMullen faces the USTA section Southern in its opening match of one singles and two doubles. Two matches the next day, against Missouri Valley and Northern, will determine if the team advances to the semifinals.

"We'll do the best with what we have at nationals," said Burks, who does applied research for Nielsen Media Research. "We don't know what to expect in the 5.0 division at nationals, but we'll be in the mix. We have good players, but no depth. All five of us must play every match."

Burks will pair with Clearwater's Kim Cashman. The two pride themselves on good returns and their ability to track down balls.

"Any national competition is always a huge challenge," Cashman said. "We had an abbreviated season, so it's hard to know where we stand, but we'll go and do our best. We have a good team, so we plan to go, play hard and have some fun."

The second doubles team includes Gail Gibson and Sue Gutierrez.

"I think we may be somewhat of a darkhorse in the sense that we haven't competed at a 5.0 national," said Sue Gutierrez of St. Petersburg. "We're deceptive, though, because we all get a lot of balls back."

Gutierrez grew up playing tennis as a junior in Southern California, competed for the University of California at Irvine and played professionally her senior year.

For the past 10 years, Gutierrez has taught for St. Petersburg and assists with programs at the Renaissance Vinoy.

The designated singles player is Margaret Roset, formerly O'Grady. Roset grew up in St. Petersburg, and played for St. Petersburg High and the University of South Carolina. Roset's resume includes a top-10 junior player, a high school state championship her senior year and competing for a top-20 ranked Gamecocks team.

"While I was getting into my career, I went to South Florida for my masters and started working as financial consultant. I didn't play for about 10 years," Roset said.

"When Anh Thu called me to play, I hadn't played at all for two years, from the time I became pregnant. I said I'd do her a favor and play the singles and I'm so glad I did."

A second area team, Countryside Country Club's 3.0 adult women, is competing in its national tournament the same weekend in Tucson, Ariz.

Countryside faces USTA sections Intermountain and Southern California its first day, followed by Northern California and Mid Atlantic.

Countryside players include captain Lisa Pratt, Rachel Mayhew, Joyce Hall, Kim Rega, Jil Colen, Gillian Irving, Pam Collins, Mary Guthrie, Catherine Kelly and Mona Lee.

NET SHOTS: Collecting junior singles championships in this month's Clearwater Fall Championships were top seed Grace Korta in the girls 10 and under, Jennifer Smith 16, No. 4 Turner Brown in boys 10, No. 3 Tanner Brown (16) and top seed Tyler Brown in (18).

Among the finalists were Isabel Arana in the girls 18, Ayush Bajoria in boys 14, Rashed Abu-Aisha (16) and Brandon MacDonald (18). Tamara Subotic won the girls 10 consolation, as did Tucker Brown in boys 12.

- Bob Schneider of New Port Richey won the men's 4.0 singles consolation in the East Lake Woodlands Fall NTRP.

- Signups are still ongoing for men's, women's and mixed doubles league play. Call Christina Hill (727) 375-7678.

SAVE THE DATE: The 14th Annual Tennis Classic is Nov. 2-5 at Paul Kronk Tennis Center at Crescent Oaks Country Club. The men's, women's and mixed doubles competition is a benefit for the Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco Inc.

For sponsorship or underwriting opportunities, call the Tennis Classic Hotline at (727) 237-2415. For playing details, call tournament director Matt Kleber at (727) 934-6920.

COMING UP: USTA Junior Team Tennis begins this week for 5- to 18-year-olds. The co-ed team play will be at Holiday Recreation Center, Gills family YMCA and the New Port Richey Recreation Center. Call (727) 375-7678.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, (727) 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified September 27, 2006, 07:35:46]