Action Weekend

See the "hungry" gals battle all this week in the Kaelin/Diadora $10,000 Championships at Van der Meer Tennis.

Admission free to spectators. Free Kids' Day Friday. Story below.

TENNIS E-News

June 05, 2008 Vol. VII, No. 63
South Carolina Tennis 2006 Media Award Winner
Hilton Head Island SC

When It Was …

Men's 5.0 -- Mark Shaeffer/Bart Whiteman def. Pat Child (Jonesboro GA)/Keith Whitlow (Jonesboro GA) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(0); Women's Open -- Denise Agee/Cindi Reiman def. Amale Allen/Robin Fulton 1-6, 6-2, 6-1; Women's 4.5 -- Patsy Reinsch def. Minnette von Tonder 6-2, 7-5.

... Was: The Banana Open 1998

Our TENNIS weekend -- Wheeeee:

Banana Open -- Palmetto Dunes Tennis -- 198 entrants

Kaelin/Diadora -- Van der Meer Tennis -- Kids' Day Friday

Senior Cup -- Columbus GA

Palmetto Championships -- Belton SC -- 29 from HHI entered

French Open -- On the tube

Friday Kids' Day With Free Clinics

SC's Mallory in Quarterfinals at Kaelin/Diadora Championships at Van der Meer

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- Friday 9 a.m. will see South Carolina's Mallory Cecil take on Natalia Rossi of Brazil in the quarterfinals of the Kaelin/Diadora $10,000 Championships at Van der Meer Tennis Center. Admission is free to spectators as the eight quarterfinalists square off, followed by back-to-back doubles.

It's Kid's Day at the tournament that will feature the USTA's Quickstart Tennis. The program is designed to help young players learn and understand the game. Dennis Van der Meer will be on court along with VdM pros, the USTA's Steve Zalinski and former WTA Top 30 professional Patricia Hy of HHI.

Children ages 4-12 are invited to attend the 11 a.m. free clinic. Pizza and refreshments will follow. For questions contact Justyn Schelver @ 843-422-4450.

Your Wins Will Count More

Sun City Doubles Upgraded to Level 3 Tournament; Entry Deadline Friday Midnight

BLUFFTON SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The USTA-sanctioned Sun City Doubles got a promotion Wednesday -- an upgrade to Level 3 status.

Already honored as South Carolina Senior Tournament of the Year, the event was just notified of its upgrade, meaning results will carry more weight in year-end rankings. "Hopefully, this will draw, if not now in the future, better players to our event," 2008 Tournament Director Ernie Clark said.

Entry deadline is Friday at midnight for the June 12-15 tournament that includes age and rating divisions in men's and women's categories. Entry forms are available at area clubs. Entry can be made online by going to www.sctennis.com, then TennisLink, then tournaments and using ID # 704100908. Complete tournament information also is at the entry site.

29 HHI Juniors Compete in Palmetto Championships

BELTON SC (TENNIS E-News) -- It's THE junior tournament for South Carolina players and 29 from Hilton Head Island are among the 422 entered in the Wachovia Palmetto Championships that went full draws Thursday. Singles and doubles will be played through the weekend in age divisions of 10s through 18s.

Two HHI juniors at top seeds -- Molly O'Koniewski in Girls' 16s and Hayley Carter in Girls' 14s. Other HHI seeds are Zach Sprouse, #5 in Boys' 18s, Nicholas Kunz #4 in Boys' 16s, Connor Burke #5 in Boys' 12s, Michelle Green #2, Jeri Reichel #3 and Amanda Schwarz #5 in Girls' 18s, Ashley Kitchen #4 and Brooks Busby #5 in Girls' 14s and Natalie Kitchen #5 in Girls' 12s.

14 Teams Competing

Junior Team Tennis Gets Its First Weekend with 170 Players … WOW!!!

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News via Bob Brown) -- It was a great opening week for Junior Team Tennis where 170 kids are playing on 14 teams throughout Beaufort County for a shot at representing the area at the State Championships in Sumter in July. The number surpasses the prior record-setting session last season.

With some teams yet to begin play, the results are as follows;

18 and Under Intermediate Div. (4 teams) -- Bluffton Badkatz over Chaplin Park Landsharks 34-22 and 39 -20 in a doubleheader. Racquet Club Villains over Beaufort Jazz 33-26 and 39-15 also doubleheader; Bluffton is in first by one game.

14 and Under Intermediate Div. (6 teams) -- Windmill Harbor beat Wexford 32-25 (2 teams); The Sharks beat Beaufort Jazz 30-24 and 30-23 in a doubleheader; The Sharks are in first byhaving played two matches while Chaplin Park and Bluffton were inactive.

14 and Under Beginner Div. -- Beaufort Jazz beat the Bluffton Badkatz 32-13 to take over the top spot.

12 and Under Intermediate Div. with 3 teams begins play mid-June.

Sigmon Fundraiser Nets More Than $26,000

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- The Katie Sigmon Hope Fundraiser Saturday raised more than $26,000 toward medical expenses incurred by the young Islander who suffered a hypoxia brain injury early last year and now is recovering in New Orleans where she is undergoing hyperbaric oxygen treatments.

More than 80 people attended the Pro-Pro tennis exhibition at South Beach Racquet Club that involved 24 local tennis pros donating their time. About 90 people attended a benefit dinner at the home of Dee & Rick Ray and more than 40 individuals/businesses donated items for the silent auction and others sent in donations.

Special guest for the event was Katie Sigmon, who was able to attend the event.

Just 1 from HHI Leagues

Adult State Championships -- The Wrap from Charleston and Greenville

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) -- If you are looking for consolation, three of the four HHI league teams competing in South Carolina 3.0, 3.5 States were beaten by teams that won their respective championships Monday in Greenville.

The 3.0 and 3.5 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 Monday's semifinals and finals IN GREEN listed together with Adult champions from two weeks ago:

(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)

3.0 Women -- Semifinal -- LCTA #1 Family Circle Coonhounds 4, CTL #2 Columbia Love-Me-Nots 1

3.0 Women -- Semifinal -- LATA #2 Lexington High Strung 4, LCTA #2 Maybank Mojo 1

3.5 Women -- Semifinal -- UPTA #1 Greenville CC Motley Crew 3, LATA #2 Topspin Dixie Chicks 2

3.5 Women -- Semifinal -- GSTL Grande Dunes 3, LATA #1 Lexington Volley Girls 2

3.0 Men -- Semifinal -- SATA Westside Racketeers 4, CTL Caughman Road Yin & Yang 1

3.0 Men -- Semifinal -- GSTL Grand Strand Players 3, Wildcard/LCTA #1 Mount Pleasant Wolves 2

3.5 Men -- Semifinal -- PD #1 Timrod 3, CTL #1 Caughman Road Chicken Dinner 2

3.5 Men -- Semifinal -- GATA Greenwood Civic Center 3, UPTA #2 Greenville Bass-Southside 2

3.5 Women -- Final -- UPTA #1 Greenville CC Motley Crew 4, GSTL Grande Dunes 1

3.0 Women -- Final -- LATA #2 Lexington High Strung 3, LCTA #1 Family Circle Coonhounds 2

3.5 Men -- Final -- PD #1 Timrod 4, GATA Greenwood Civic Center 1

3.0 Men -- Final -- SATA Westside Racketeers 4, GSTL Grand Strand Players 1

W2.5 -- HHI/Bluffton HS Alley Cats (Dianne Austin) 2, GSTL/Prestwick Playas (Kelly Krajeck) 1

M2.5 -- PD/Oakdale (Stan Kenimer) winner of round robin; CTL #1/Rockbridge Hit It Harder (Scott Lambe) second

W4.0 -- CTL #2/CAC Hooligans (Lisa Dye) 3, LATA #1/Pink Flamingos (Brandy Aul) 2

M4.0 -- CTL #1/Southeast Need a Team Name (Lee Phipps) 4, PD/Over the Hill Gang (Rando Strickland) 1

W4.5 -- FTA/Greenville Sportsclub (Michele Jain) 3, HHI/Palmetto Dunes States or Busts (Michelle Clark) 2

M4.5 -- CTL #1/Dirty Dozen (Tim Sinclair) 3, CTL #2/Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli (Bruce Rienecker) 2

M5.0 -- LCTA/St. Andrews (Philip Burke) winner of round robin; CTL/Longcreek Plantation Posse (Kent Whitener) second

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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

( ) "A WMD is an 18-year-old without an adequate education."

( ) -- Chicago father interviewed on TV news

(___)

-- Dennis Malick