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Tennis takes swing at cancer research

By NANCY MORGAN
Published April 18, 2007

Four years ago, three longtime friends created a tennis event to raise funds for cancer research. In the last three years, about $125,000 has been raised.

Friday, the Fourth Annual Tennis Pro-Am begins at the Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club with hopes of adding another $50,000.

Maria Cercone, director of tennis at Bardmoor, Ron Farb, co-founder of the Climb for Cancer Foundation, and Ricardo Acuna, former national tennis coach, met while volunteering at Camp Sunshine, a sports-oriented camp in Atlanta for children with cancer. The three became friends and developed the idea of the tennis fundraiser for the Climb for Cancer Foundation.

"The tennis fundraiser is a great event, said Farb, who does mountain climbing to raise funds for his foundation. "There is quite an impressive group of professionals volunteering to participate in the pro-am."

Among those committing to participate are professionals Mardy Fish, Acuna, Todd Martin, Brian Gottfried, Harold Solomon, Jay Berger, former college coach Andy Brandi and Andy Roddick's former coach, Dean Goldfine.

Friday beginning at 5 p.m. is a clinic with the pros for a $50 fee, which includes dinner afterward and bidding for the pro-am teams. Women and the pros begin play at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by the men with the pros at 2 p.m.

Funds raised from this weekend's pro-am will be directed to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute.

For more details about the event, call Bardmoor, 392-1234, ext. 2. To learn more about the not-for-profit foundation, visit www.cfc-foundation.org.

LEAGUE NEWS: Local super senior teams came up short at last weekend's Super Senior Section Championships in Daytona Beach. Sixteen women's teams and 24 men's teams from around the state played for the opportunity to compete for national championships.

McMullen's 8.0 women and men placed second overall, St. Petersburg Tennis Center's 7.0 women were fourth in flight competition, and Safety Harbor Spa 7.0 men were second in flight action.

McMullen 8.0 women posted a 2-2 record with seven individual wins, five losses and 13 sets loss compared with Naples' 3-1 record with seven position wins, five losses and 12 sets lost.

McMullen 8.0 men were 3-0 in flight competition to reach the final with Naples. In the final, Naples won 2-1.

SPTC 7.0 women were 1-2 in their flight and the Spa 7.0 men were 2-2 overall.

- Next weekend, Feather Sound Country Club represents USTA Florida in the 2006 Super Senior 6.0 men's championships at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

NET SHOTS: Julianne Gruber and Dan Stefan collected singles titles in last weekend's SPTC Junior Easter Classic in St. Petersburg. Gruber defended her top seeding in the girls 16-and-under division, and Stefan upset the boys 14 top seed in the final.

No. 3 Anastasha Worlds played to the girls 10 final, and Alexis Franco won the 10 consolation.

COMING UP: The Largo May Day Rookie Tournament is April 28-29 at the Southwest Complex for boys and girls 16 and younger. Call 518-3125. ... The Spring Junior Super Series is at Countryside Country Club April 28-30. Call 796-1136. ... The Spring Classic for adults begins April 27 at Clearwater's McMullen Tennis Complex. Call 669-1919.

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

[Last modified April 17, 2007, 20:00:18]