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Letter to the editor

Ultimate Tennis names summer champs

By NANCY MORGAN
Published August 29, 2007

Last weekend's Ultimate Tennis Summer Championships at Countryside Country Club in Clearwater may have gotten a little wet, but the intensity level never waned for the competitors.

Despite rain delays, Tampa Bay league champs were named in five of the nine women's divisions and nine of the 12 men's. The remaining matches will be played within a few weeks.

Pinellas winners include Indian Rocks Beach's Sonja Stubblefield in the women's 2.5, Shipwatch's Robyn Wittleder women's 3.0, McMullen's Deanne Horn (women's 3.5), East Lake Woodland's Jim Cassidy (men's 2.5), East Lake's Rohn Wright (men's 3.5-minus), Bardmoor's Keith Lyle (men's 3.5) and St. Petersburg Country Club's Gregg Greene (men's 4.0.)

Tampa Bay champs Wittleder, Horn and Lyle scored double wins after defeating the Southwest league champs to claim the Ultimate Tennis region title.

Stubblefield captured her first Tampa Bay league win in her fourth season of Ultimate Tennis competition. Playing just two years, Stubblefield relied on her ability to return every possible ball while looking for opportunities to make winning shots. She advanced to the region contest, but fell short with a 6-3, 6-1 loss to the Southwest league champ.

Greene reached the playoffs in each of his five seasons of play, but had not collected a title until last weekend. He won two three-set matches, rallying after losing the first, to reach the Tampa Bay championship with McMullen's Mazhar Al-Abed. Again, Greene rallied after a first-set loss to win 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. Tonight, Greene plays his region title match with the Southwest champ.

Last season, Jane Farina won the Tampa Bay 3.0 title, but this time, Wittleder took the league title and advanced to the region championship. Wittleder won 6-2, 6-3 for her first region award in five seasons.

Finalists in the Tampa Bay championships include Pinellas players Hudson (2.5), Farina (3.0), Marian Fierro (4.0) and Jane Robinson (4.5) among the women. Finalists among the men include Brian Nash (3.0), Adam Packer (4.0-minus), Al-Abed (4.0) and Milan Matous (4.5-minus).

Tampa Bay final matches yet to be played place Seminole's Suzy Petrocelli against Tampa's Rachel Mayberry (women's 3.5-minus), St. Petersburg's Kathy Moll vs. Tampa's Denise Lyn (women's 4.5-minus), East Lake Woodland's Donna Roberts against Tampa's Anna Fotopoulos (women's 5.0), St. Petersburg's Brian Penney vs. McMullen's Ron Bedlack (men's 5.5) and St. Petersburg's Clark MacCullough against Clearwater's Phil Hubbell (men's 6.0-minus).

NET SHOTS:Alexandra Cercone finished third in the girls 16 USTA National Hard Court Championships in California. Third-seed Cercone and Jacqueline Kasler of Gulf Breeze won the girls 16 doubles national title.

- Christina Liles reached the girls 18-and-under doubles quarterfinals with Stacey Lee of New York in the USTA National Championships in California.

- Registration for the USTA Jr. Team fall season has been extended to Sept.6. Beginner, intermediate and advanced divisions are offered in the coed team sport in 18-and-under, 14, 12 and 10 age divisions. For details, contact coordinator Andrea Seiler by phone, 239-7688, or e-mail, andreaseiler@msn.com

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:Next month is the 14th annual Charity Tennis Tournament to benefit the Humane Society of Pinellas at Royal Racquet Club. Contact Judy Foster, 725-3681, for information on the Sept.26-30 event.

- The 23rd Annual Charity Pro-Am Tennis Tournament is Oct.12-13 at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center. Contact All Children's Hospital, 767-8422. Amateur players can register with Jackie Keller, 823-2225, or Maria Cercone, 391-2205.

- November 2 presents Pretty in Pink, a one-day women's doubles tournament, at East Lake Woodlands, to raise funds for local breast cancer patients. Contact Lisa Durkin at lisamariedurkin@hotmail.com or Mari Workman at mariworkman@hotmail.com

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 August 29, 2007, 08:19:22]