Several county teams at peak of the season

By NANCY MORGAN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published May 31, 2001

It's the height of USA League Tennis in Pinellas.

There are teams that have competed in state competition, squads that are headed to state this weekend and others nearing the end of their season.

Earlier this month, seven teams ventured to Naples for the Senior Doubles League State Tournament for players at least 50 years of age. One squad returned a champion and three others were a runner-up.

Treasure Island Recreation, Tennis and Golf Center's 4.0 senior women beat teams from Tallahassee, Plantation, Ft. Myers, Rockledge and Lakeland to play Pensacola for the title. Treasure Island's doubles players defeated Pensacola 2-1, securing a berth in the national championships, Oct. 25-28 in Palm Springs, Calif.

Runners-up included Westin Innisbrook Resort's 3.5 women, the Racquet Club's 3.5 men and Shipwatch Tennis Club's 4.0 men.

Innisbrook fell 2-1 to Brandon, which went on to win the state championship; the Racquet Club lost 2-1 to Gulf Breeze, as did Shipwatch to Bradenton. Gulf Breeze and Bradenton finished second to Ft. Myers and Pensacola, respectively.

"We beat all the teams in our flight to get to the semifinal with Bradenton," said Doug Godinho, the Shipwatch captain. "All three doubles positions went to the 10-point tie-break for the third set, but we were only able to get one point."

Godinho and partner Wendall Walker earned that point in the No. 3 spot of a semifinal. They were unbeaten in all five of the team's matches.

Other women's state champions included Hernando, in the 3.0, and Titusville, 4.5. Tallahassee won the men's 3.0 title, and Tampa the 4.5.

Naples is the site for this weekend's Super Senior Doubles League Championships.

Five local champions will compete in the state event for teams of players at least 60 years of age. In all, 26 women's squads and 24 men's clubs statewide are in three levels.

Representing the local super senior league are Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club (4.0), Innisbrook (3.5) and Timber Pines Tennis Club (3.0) among the women and Safety Harbor Spa's 3.5 (formerly based at Innisbrook) and Timber Pines (3.0) on the men's side.

"Some of us have been to state events before, and a couple to national league championships," said Joe Gari, Safety Harbor's captain. "We'll go down to Naples and give it our best shot. We have two matches Friday, so we'll see how things go from there."

Gari has been to nationals in the adult and senior leagues three times. Teammate Willie Coquelet has been one time, and Richard Hough has competed once at state. The squad's other players are David Wisotsky, John Kuhn, Dick Lashley and Fred Elflein.

Friday, Safety Harbor plays Gainesville and Pensacola.

The Innisbrook women's team is comprised of captain Maureen Sternberg, Joan Holland, Phyllis Gary, Judy Murphy, Midge Spaulding, Marilyn Linker, Jean McKenzie and Anne Hammond. The squad faces Plant City on Friday, then meets Gainesville and Indian Harbor Beach on Saturday. The top team among these four advances to Sunday's semifinals.

Treasure Island plays Sarasota and Lakeland on Friday, then Ormond Beach and Naples.

Local action in the Adult League is winding down for some levels and complete in others.

Among the women, the best 2-of-3 match playoffs begin Saturday in the 3.5 division between Feather Sound and East Lake Woodlands, and 3.0 and 4.0 teams have regular-season matches through next month.

Only the 4.5 winner has been determined. The McMullen-based squad of 11 enjoyed an unbeaten season.

"We all rotate around the positions, depending on the availability of our players," said Am Tu Burks, a co-captain with Joan Simmons. "We've had a good season and hope to do well at the regionals in July. I'd say we have heart when we play, and that's been real important."

Joining Burks and Simmons are Linda Bacon, Elizabeth Leigh, Jane Robinson, Nancy Boyce, Connie Smith, Bonnie Resmondo, Leanne Hoffman, Debbie Hobbs and Sophie McCook.

In men's competition, 3.5 teams begin a round-robin playoff Saturday with Royal Racquet Club at the Vinoy and Safety Harbor Spa at the Racquet Club. A one-match playoff is scheduled June 16 between Seminole Lake Tennis Center and Countryside Country Club in 4.0.

"There's one heck of a race in the 4.5," said Clark Higgs, first-year coordinator of the men's adult league. "McMullen's Talner team is 9-2 with one match left to play, and the Spa is 7-2 with three to play. It could come down to a tie-breaker."

The Spa has a huge lead in the 5.0 division with matches yet to play with Seminole and Treasure Island Rec. The 5.5 squad from Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht is unchallenged and advances directly to the state tournament. All the other division champions play regionals in July.

The only men's division that has completed its competition is 3.0. Countryside was the champion.

JUNIOR NOTES: Christina Liles, in the girls 16-and-under division, and Fred Johnson, boys 16, defended their top seeds in the Memories in Clearwater at Seminole Lake Tennis Center.

Liles rebounded from a first-set loss to defeat No. 4 Brooke Allen 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the state-sanctioned singles event. Johnson eliminated Valrico's Justin Whitford in straight sets.

Jonathan Bonner was a finalist in the 14 division, as was Marco Andres Pineda in the 10. David Barr won the boys 10 consolation bracket. Bugsy Bauer, last year's Peach State Junior Tennis Classic girls 14 champion, won her first match in the 16 division before falling to top-seeded Natalie Frazier of Georgia.

Frazier was the division's eventual winner, but Bauer took four matches in the consolation draw to reach its final with No. 5 Jessica Kirkland of Ohio. Bauer defeated her in straight sets for the title.

George Navas finished third in the boys 14 designated singles tournament in Delray Beach.

Jonathan Bonner was a consolation finalist in the 14 division, as was Joel Samaha in the 12 class. Alexandra Cercone, the eighth seed in girls 10, reached the semifinal round before falling to No. 2 Chloe Smith of Naples. Cercone was scheduled to be in a playoff for third place Tuesday.

USA Team Tennis begins the week of June 4 for individuals 6-18 on coed teams depending on playing levels.

Local league players are eligible for the USA Team Tennis State Championships scheduled for July in Lakeland. For information, call 784-4938 or 733-2750.

THIS WEEK: Men's professional tennis is in the area through Sunday at Seminole Lake Tennis Center in the USTA Futures of Seminole.

Aspiring players ranked 297th worldwide and higher are competing in a 32-singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw. There's no admission. For information, call the center, 394-1733.

ADULT ACTIVITIES: Registration for the summer season of the K-Swiss Tennis League concludes this week. The season starts June 9 and continues through Aug. 4. Call 865-0615 to enter.

The Suncoast Tennis Singles meets June 16 at Safety Harbor Spa. Interested players should call 898-8140.

COMING UP: The Lydick Family Tennis Benefit, an adult singles tournament, is Saturday at McMullen Tennis Complex in Clearwater. For information, call 724-1570 or 669-1919. ... The Phil Green Tennis Academy is having its Summer Classic for boys and girls June 9-11 at Safety Harbor Spa. Call Green, 724-7729, to register for the singles and doubles state-sanctioned event.

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