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Chris Black's future in golf didn't distract the Zephyrhills senior from repeating as district champion in No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.
By STEVE LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 1, 2001
ZEPHYRHILLS -- Tennis has brought a lot of joy and success to Zephyrhills' Chris Black since he took up the sport as a 5-year-old.
Since his freshman year, however, golf has won his heart.
In the fall, when Black is a freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, his sport of choice will be the one played with clubs. Black's days of smashing balls over a net with a racket are history.
Despite his golf aspirations, Black was still the best boys tennis player in the county this season. His loss in the Class 2A state quarterfinals was his lone defeat and kept him from completing back-to-back undefeated seasons.
This year's performance on the court included consecutive district titles in No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles with partner Chris Hinkle.
He was also named the Times All-County Boys Golfer of the Year.
"It means more in golf," Black said, "because that's my sport now. But it's nice to know I've still got a little bit of a game in tennis."
Black won one of two singles matches at the state tournament this season, bowing out in the second round. Though he qualified for the state meet the previous year, he opted for a family vacation and missed the tournament.
"It was an eye-opener," Black said of playing at states. "It proved to me why I quit tennis.
"Those kids are good. They kind of do what I do in golf. They practice all day long. How can you really compete with that?"
Black recalls practicing tennis daily, and twice a day in the summer. Now, he plays golf just as much.
Having spent so much time on the tennis court while growing up, Black said he eventually tired of the sport.
"I was doing it so much and (from about the age of 10 through 15) having to go to Tampa three times a week to find someone to hit with, it got a little old," Black said.
Black plans to enter nine golf tournaments this summer, but he couldn't predict the next time he would pick up a tennis racket.
"I haven't even thought about it," he said. "I might play one (tennis) tournament this summer."
While golf takes precedence, Black has not completely ruled out tennis.
"I can't say I'm not going to miss it," Black said. "Just in case it falls through with golf I'll have something to fall back on."
When Black leaves for college in August, he plans to take all five of his tennis rackets with him.
With lifelong friend and Bulldogs tennis star Courtney Dwyer also attending Florida Gulf Coast on a scholarship, Black knows he will have plenty of challenges for a game.