Benefit Saturday

Entry deadline Sunday for 2008 Banana

TENNIS E-News

May. 30, 2008 Vol. VII, No. 60
South Carolina Tennis 2006 Media Award Winner
Hilton Head Island SC

Pros vs. Pros

Benefit for Sigmon Hope Fund To Be Staged Saturday at South Beach R.C.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The Pros vs. Pros benefit for the Katie Sigmon Hope Fund will be held tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at South Beach Racquet Club. All proceeds will go to the fund for the young HHI resident who has suffered a severe brain injury that has left her in need of continual rehabilitation.

When going to the event, tell Sea Pines Gate Security that you are attending the benefit event.

Six matches featuring 24 HHI area teaching pros and coaches will be set up with two each starting at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be served. A Calcutta event and silent auction will be included

Among pros scheduled to play are Brian Kiggans, Patrick Mason, Mike O'Regan, Lee Holyoak, Pat Child, Sarah Riske, Susie Lester, Jolene Watanabe, Brett Robertson, Scott Clemens, Bill Hoppe, Scott Reznich, Alfredo Soliz, Mike Sutcliff, Guenter Bergmann, Scott Hart, Chris Mireles, MacKenzie Mekus, Justin Fulton, Mike Caboy and Cary North.

For more information, call South Beach at 671-2215.

Wong Earns Wildcard Entry

Qualifying Round Begins Sunday in $10,000 Kaelin/Diadora at Van der Meer

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Clemson signee Keri Wong defeated fellow local trainee Erina Kikuchi 6-4, 7-6 to earn a main draw wildcard into next week's Kaelin/Diadora Women's $10,000 Championships at Van der Meer Tennis Center. Qualifying that begins Sunday sets off a week of tournament play, exhibitions and clinics all open free to the public.

Van der Meer trainees Wong and Kikuchi played their way through a field of 17 players to compete for the wildcard in the USTA pro circuit event. Main draw play will begin Tuesday. About 140 players from around the world will compete for $10,000 in cash. For questions or additional information, contact VdM Director of Events Justyn Schelver at 785-8388.
Here is the week's schedule:

Sunday -- Qualifying Rounds Begin

Monday -- Pro Doubles Exhibition at 5:45 p.m.; player party to follow

Tuesday -- Main draw begins; player and sponsor lunch at noon

Wednesday -- Adult Doubles Clinic (levels 2.0-4.5) featuring VdM Head Professional Ray Sahag at 5:45 p.m.

Friday -- Kids' Day Clinic (ages 5-14) featuring the USTA’s Quick Start Tennis Program at 11:00am, Pizza Party to follow*

Saturday – Singles semifinals and doubles final

Sunday – Singles final and Awards presentation

35s-75s Team Competition

HHI, Bluffton Players Chosen for Senior Cup Play in Georgia

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The Southern Senior Cup Championships, which started on HHI back in the last century, will have 11 area players competing on the South Carolina team against those from eight other states in the section June 6-8 in Columbus GA.

The competition, like other tennis-growth events, was first played on Hilton Head Island with Tennessee, Georgia, North and South Carolina in men's and women's team competition in 35s, 45s, 55s and 65s and has since developed into the current field. State teams meet in two singles and one doubles on each age division -- that now includes 75s. They play to a men's and a women's championship, plus an overall title.

Competing this year from this area will be:

Women's 35 -- Christine Damas

Men's 45 -- Scott Nichols

Women's 45 -- Donna McKenna (Bluffton), Nancy Szen

Men's 55 -- Keith Whitlow, Pat Child

Women's 55 -- Jolene Watanabe

Women's 65 -- Ann Hunt, Judy Levering

Men's 75 -- Bob Wiederhorn (Bluffton), Bob Koenig (Bluffton)

4 HHI Teams Competing

Adult State Championships Run Saturday through Monday in Greenville

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The schedule is set for the second segment of the South Carolina Adult State Championships in Greenville.

Four Hilton Head Island league team are competing in the 3.0 and 3.5 playoffs. Champions will join the Adult 2.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 and all Senior levels at Southern Sectionals in July in Mobile AL. Set for Southerns July 19-22 will be Adult Men & Women 2.5, 3.0 & 3.5 and Senior Men & Women 4.0 & 4.5. From July 24-27 will be Adult 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5 & Open and Senior 2.5, 3.0 & 3.5

Here are the schedules involving the HHI league teams:

(Key to abbreviations: AATL = Aiken Area; CTL = Columbia; FTA = Foothills/Greenville; GATA = Greenwood; GSTL = Grand Strand/Myrtle Beach; LATA = Lexington Area; LCTA = Lowcountry/Charleston Area; MCTL = Mid-Carolina/York County/Rock Hill; PD = PeeDee/Florence; SATA = Spartanburg Area; UPTA = Upper Piedmont/Greenville)

Saturday the 31^st

8 a.m. -- 3.5 Men -- Bluffton HS Bluffton Breeze vs. UPTA #2/Greenville Bass-Southside

11 a.m. -- 3.0 Men -- Sun City Sun Devils vs. PD/Timrod

12:30 p.m. -- 3.5 Men -- Bluffton HS Bluffton Breeze vs. LATA/Lexington Tiebreakers

2 p.m. -- 3.0 Women -- Palmetto Dunes PD Aces vs. LATA #2/Lexington High Strung

2 p.m. -- 3.5 Women -- Indigo Run Volley Girls vs. UPTA #1/Greenville CC Motley Crew

3:30 p.m. -- 3.0 Men -- Sun City Sun Devils vs. LATA/Lexington Stringers

League Play Set for July

Pre-registration Under Way for Adult and Senior Combo

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Combo pre-registration is now officially open for adult and senior leagues that will begin play in mid-July and run through early October.

Coordinator Kathy Foulke said that combo divisions are available in Adult 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 and 10.0 as well as Senior 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5. A pre-registration form is an attachment to this issue, however, captains/players also can get one by contacting Foulke at 681-9649 or kathyfoulke@netscape.net.

Combo state championships will be in Charleston Oct. 24-27, including all adult and senior divisions as well as super seniors that already are playing their league season.

* + * + * + * + * + * + *

Well, well, well … two and a half weeks after the end of the USTA League Senior State Championships on Hilton Head Island a story appears about it on USTA South Carolina's webpage http://www.sctennis.com. Faster than a speeding mouse terd, the item does include photos of the championship teams and a jazzy shot of HHI's Eddie Goodson.

* + * + * + * + * + * + *

USTA League Southern Championships

Planning Ahead? It'll Be Birmingham in '09 and '10

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Captains need not change reservations right now, but if looking to win local and state league championships next spring, you will be making flight or driving plans to Birmingham AL, where the USTA League Adult and Senior Southern Sectional Championships will be played.

Birmingham has just won the bid for 2009 and 2010 -- the first time it has hosted the tournament. Prior to moving to Mobile for 2007 and '08, the Southern Championships have been in Charleston and Columbia SC, Louisville KY, Chattanooga TN, New Orleans LA, Little Rock AR and Atlanta GA.

The City of Birmingham has allocated $500,000 for tennis court improvements and to complete the renovations recommended by the USTA at three tennis centers that will host matches.

If you really are looking early for information, contact Holly Goddard, USTA Southern, 770-368-8200 x112, goddard@sta.usta.com.

Upcoming Tournaments:

June 1-8 – Women’s Satellite $10,000 Kaelin/Diadora Championships at Van der Meer Tennis Center. 785-8838.

June 6-8 -- The Banana Open at Palmetto Dunes T.C./rated men's/women's singles/doubles & mxd. 785-1152.

June 12-15 -- Sun City Senior Doubles Tournament -- USTA-sanctioned age/rated; Tournament ID# 704100908

June 27-29 – Beaufort Summer Splash!! USTA-sanctioned; rated divisions in Adults (ID# 704110608); age divisions in Juniors (ID# 704116008) (ADULTS, Tournament ID #704110608); Online registration now open. Info: Cathy McGill 843-271-0074

June 28 -- TAHHI Wimbledon Member Social at South Beach R.C. For information contact: Pat Leinberger 705-6014.

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO Bumper sticker observed on panel truck on Wm. Hilton Parkway:

( ) "Friend's don't let friend's

( ) buy import shrimp"

(___) -- Illiteracy reigns on Hilton Head Island

-- Dennis Malick