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Letter to the editor

Charity event hopes for more area teams

By NANCY MORGAN, Times Sports Correspondent
Published September 26, 2007

In its 23rd year, the Raymond James Charity Pro/Am Tennis Tournament is taking on a new twist, with hopes of encouraging more area clubs to participate.

The charity event, the proceeds of which will be directed to All Children's Hospital for the fifth year, is Oct.12-13 at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center. The event kicks off with a cocktail buffet and live auction, where amateur players will bid for their pro partners. Saturday's tennis format includes a women's amateur and pros round-robin, followed by a men's amateur and pros round-robin.

"We want to build the club concept and make it a big deal for club members to support their player," said chairman Darlene Grayson. "... We want to build team play and have some fun. We're hoping for a good representation from the surrounding clubs."

Maria Cercone, tennis director at the Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club, is coordinating the pros. Already committed are teaching professionals and top-ranked players such as Andres Molina, Motez Robinson, Shihka Singh, Ricardo Acuna, Curtis Ingram, Adrian Pagani, Reinaldo Valor and Jeff Chambers.

"There are slots yet open on the amateur side, and they should contact Maria at Bardmoor or Jackie Keller at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center," Grayson said.

Over the past 22 years, the event has raised more than $280,000 for local charities. Each year, Grayson said, the steering committee raises the bar.

Players interested in competing should contact Keller 823-2225 or Cercone (391-2205) by Sunday.

LEAGUES:Winners in the Adult Men's Combo Doubles League are Largo 7.5 and Countryside 6.5. Largo, with David Halliday as captain, was unbeaten among 10 teams, as was Countryside among five.

The Adult Combo Doubles League state competition is Jan.11-13 at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

- Some divisions in the Senior Combo Doubles Leagues kicked off action this month, and others begin in October. In women's competition, Treasure Island won its first match in the three-team 6.5 division with a 3-0 score over Feather Sound. McMullen is 2-0 in the five-team 7.5. The two-team 8.5 division begins Oct.6.

The men's 6.5, divided into two flights, begins in October. McMullen won its first match in the five-team 7.5.

NET SHOTS: USTA Florida announced last week that the Florida Tennis Center will remain open through 2008. Daytona Beach agreed to run and maintain the center at the same level of financial commitment as it has in the past.

- Fourth-seed Kevin Manning won the men's 50-and-over singles in the USPTA International Championships at Saddlebrook. In the final, Manning beat top-seed Jeff Davis with a 4-6, 4-0 score when Davis retired with an injury.

- Among the winners in last weekend's Treasure Island Fall Rookie Tournament are Tara-Lynn Carey (girls 16-and-under round-robin), top-seed Beau Langford (boys 10), Joseph Ritch (boys 12) and Alex King (boys 18).

- Michael Stegmayer upset the top-seed to win the men's 70-and-over title in last weekend's SPTC Adult Classic Championships. In the men's open, local players Sheharyar Wali and Reinaldo Valor faced off Monday night.

- There are 12 teams competing in the fall season of USTA Florida Junior Team Tennis, with three in the 18-and-under division, five in the 14 and four in the 12. The coed teams play Sunday afternoons through mid October. Clubs hosting teams include St. Petersburg Country Club and Countryside Country Club with three each; McMullen of Clearwater with two; and Bardmoor, Beach to Bay Tennis, Palm Harbor University High and Berkeley Prep with one team each.

COMING UP:The 14th annual Humane Society of Pinellas Charity Tennis Tournament begins Friday at Royal Racquet Club. Call 799-3200. ... The Super Series Seminole BASH begins Saturday at the Seminole Lake Racquet Club. Call 394-1733.

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 September 25, 2007, 21:43:03]