Bugging Again

TENNIS E-NEWS

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 Vol. VIII, No. 45
2006 Winner of South Carolina Media Award
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Championships in Arizona

Sun City Court Jesters Lose One; the Second (and earlier) Match Was ?????????

SURPRISE AZ (TENNIS E-News via TennisLink) – Dunno. The Sun City Court Jesters got a win Monday and were scheduled for morning and afternoon matches today at the 2008 Super Senior National 6.0 Championships. The afternoon match resulted in a 2-1 loss to the Eastern/Buffalo. The morning match has no posted results at “press” time.

Here is today’s result and the schedule for Wednesday:

Monday the 27^th

9 a.m. – Sun City Court Jesters 2, Missouri Valley/Kansas City 1

Tuesday the 28^th

10 a.m. – Sun City Court Jesters , Northern California/Napa Valley

3 p.m. – Sun City Court Jesters 1, Eastern/Buffalo area 2

Ct. 1 – Alex Tan/Robert Perrone lost 5-7, 6-4, 1-0

Ct. 2 – Ken Diehl/Tom Docherty lost 6-1, 7-6

Ct. 3 – Michael Zipes/Dale Dremann won 6-4, 7-6

Wednesday the 29^th

7:30 a.m. – Semifinals --

10 a.m. – Finals --

MUSC Benefit

Banana Open Junior Challenge Day One Will Include Adult/Child Fun Round Robin

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – The 3^rd annual Banana Open Junior Challenge is set to start with a double-billed Friday at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center – opening round matches in novice and championship brackets as needed plus an Adult/Child evening round robin. The latter will be run completely separate from the main draws and will include the tournament’s Players’ Party that starts at 6 p.m. sponsored by Jim ‘n’ Nick’s Bar-B-Q.

The novice and championship divisions will play through Saturday and into Sunday finals. A weekend-long silent auction will be concluded at 2 p.m. Sunday. All proceeds will go to the Medical University of South Carolina’s children’s research center.

For information, contact Palmetto Dunes at 785-1152.

Amelia to Ponte Vedra

Passing Along a Note for Next April Tournament Travel

BEAUFORT SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – Cathy McGill has a message for fellow travelers: “Tell everyone they can see all the same players (with the exception of four other top seeds) at the MPS Championships (formerly the Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island) at Sawgrass Bluff in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL the week before Family Circle Cup.”

She and a group of local tennis enthusiasts spent the week in Ponte Vedre in “very intimate atmosphere (very much like Amelia or Sea Pines) with quality tennis at a very affordable price, even for box seats.”

How about travel time? “It’s about 30 minutes farther,” she said.

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TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO

( ) From actor Jack Nicholson:

( ) "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch."

(___) -- from the Internet

-- Dennis Malick

Smashing Mixed

TENNIS E-NEWS

Sunday, April 26, 2009 Vol. VIII, No. 43
2006 Winner of South Carolina Media Award
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Apr. 23-25 in 2010

Mixed Doubles Star in BillyBob Finals; Child a Double Champion

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – It was shock and awe in the Mixed Doubles finals of the 24th annual BillyBob Century Cup Doubles today at South Beach Racquet Club, leaving spectators cheering and off-island players spouting: “Wait until next year.” The Men’s and Women’s Open of the combined-age tournament also provided lots of firepower.

Timing was just right for the tournament that drew 47 more players than last year with several championships going to visitors from the Far North and Far South. A strong contingent of Canadians were among players asking for 2010 dates (Apr. 23-25) to plan for a return for the Silver Anniversary BillyBob.

Tournament Director Michael O’Keefe had his hands full adjusting court schedules for all the lengthy three-set matches, but the weather cooperated and the last two finals finished within five minutes of each other in mid-afternoon. Although several players made it to two finals, HHIslander Pat Child was the only one to win championship prize money two times – 80 Men’s Open with Mike O’Regan and 80 Mixed Open with Jill Wilson of Beaufort.

Here are today’s results (plus two corrections) with players from Hilton Head Island unless otherwise noted (Champions are in red.):
80 Men’s Open (Final) -- Patrick Child / Michael O'Regan (1) def. Keith Hutcheson (Bluffton)/ Lawrence Taylor 6-3; 6-3

80 Mixed Open (Semifinal Round) -- Donald Sigmon / Jolene Watanabe (Bluffton) def. Robin Fulton / Henry Iannuzzi 6-1; 6-1; (Final) -- Patrick Child / Jill Wilson (Beaufort) (1) def. Sigmon / Watanabe 1-6; 6-3; 6-0

80 Women’s Open (Semifinal Round Correction) -- Maureen Bush / Jolene Watanabe (Bluffton) def. Robin Fulton / Meri Lobel 6-3, 6-4; (Final) -- Bush / Watanabe def. Michelle Clark (Beaufort)/ Jill Wilson (Beaufort) 6-2; 6-3

80's Women 4.0 (Round Robin) -- Allison Meade / Jackie Reynecke def. Judy Larkin / Donna Smorol 6-1; 7-5

80 Mixed 4.0 (Final) -- Liz Purcell / Jim Purcell (1) def. Keith Hutcheson (Bluffton) / Jamie Hutcheson (Bluffton) 4-6; 7-5; 6-4

100 Men”s 4.5 (Final) -- Wes Breinich / Bobby Tillison (1) def. Bruce Builder / Joe Mezera 6-2; 6-1

100 Women’s 4.5 (Final) -- Amale Allen / Judy Levering (1) def. Nanci Staples / Susan Taylor (2) 6-2; 7-6

100 Mixed 4.5 (Semifinal Round) -- Kathy Jenson / Bobby Tillison (2) def. Frank Meade / Allison Meade (3) 6-3; 4-6; 7-6; (Final) -- Maureen Bush (Bluffton) / Don Hutchison (Reading PA) (4) def. Jenson / Tillison (2) 6-2; 6-3

120 Men’s 4.0 (Final) -- John Brummitt / Doug Luba def. Brent Gallagher (Bluffton) / Gary Kocher 6-4; 6-4

120s Women’s 4.0 (Semifinal Round Correction) – Charlene Bradeen (Bluffton) / Phyllis Spehlmann def. Margaret Dreibelbis / Kathleen Graham 4-6; 6-3; 6-3 (Final) -- Bradeen / Spehlmann def. Judy Larkin / Donna Smorol 6-3; 6-4

120 Mixed 4.0 (Final) -- Richard Prewitt (Naples FL) / Sylvia Prewitt (Naples FL) def. Ian Gentle (Toronto ONT) / Marie Kuleba (Toronto ONT) 6-2; 6-2

140 Men’s 3.5 (Semifinal Round) -- Kenneth Dorner (Portage MI) / John Yselonia (Wayne NJ) def. John Hanlin (Louisville CO) / Bill Stetson 6-3; 6-0; (Final) -- John Martin / Bob Payne def. Dorner / Yselonia 6-2; 6-2

140 Mixed 3.5 (Round Robin)--Dwight Hunting / Marian Trenis def. Namhee Donohue (West Orange NJ) / Kenneth Dorner (Portage MI) 6-1; 7-5

150 Men”s 3.5 (Final) -- Bob Graff / Dan Hofmann def. Ernie Clark (Bluffton) / Joe Pizzat (Bluffton) 6-3; 6-3

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USTA LEAGUE STANDINGS – TennisLink as of 4/25/09

Hilton Head Island Adult Leagues

Playing # of Teams/

Level players Season Team Leaders as of 4/25/09

AW2.5 4/51 2/14 - 5/2 Spanish Wells Love Means Nothing, SCYacht Ms. Fits tied at 7-1

AM3.0 4/58 2/14 – 5/2 Chaplin Park Rattlers in first at 6-2

AW3.0 5/77 1/29 – 4/25 Wexford Player Slayers, Chaplin Shady’s Rath tied in first at 7-1

AM3.5 6/86 1/31 – 5/2 Sea Pines CC The Old Guys in first at 9-0

AW3.5 14/214 1/29 – 5/16 Indigo Run Indigo Slice, Long Cove Covettes tied at 11-0

AM4.0 5/66 2/15 – 4/26 PDTC Smash in first at 7-1

AW4.0 4/62 1/31 – 4/25 Sea Pine’s Smashers in first at 8-1

AM4.5 2/27 2/22 – 3/29 South Beach BT Express clinched championship at 4-1

AW4.5 2/32 2/22 – 3/29 PDTC clinched championship at 5-0

Total 46/673

HHI Totals 122/1,594

Coastal Carolina Adult Leagues

Playing # of Teams/

Level players Season Team Leaders as of 4/25/09

AW3.0 3/37 2/21 – 5/2 Bluffton Alley Cats in lead at 5-0

AM3.5 2/24 3/7 – 5/2 Beaufort Smashers in lead at 3-1

AW3.5 4/62 2/19 – 5/2 Beaufort Red Hot Chili Peppers in first at 6-1

AM4.0 2/25 3/24-4/28 Bluffton Rovers in first at 2-0

AW4.0 5/71 2/14 – 5/2 Beaufort Sea Islanders lead at 6-0

Total 16/219

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Two years ago TENNIS E-News ran a well-received series of excerpts from "The Code, The Players' Guide for Unofficiated Matches". You have asked for a repeat? You got it.

Catching the ball? If a player catches a ball before it bounces, the player loses the point.

*Note: TENNIS E-News is not making up these items. All are taken word-for-word from USTA's "The Code" that can be found in the "Friend at Court" handbook or as a stand-alone leaflet -- available by going to http://www.usta.com and selec ting "USTA Shop" and then "Books" on that page.

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Upcoming Tournaments/Activity:

May 1-3: 3rd annual Banana Open Junior Challenge / Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center / Novice & Tournament boys & girls age-division singles / separate adult/junior run round robin May 1 / Benefit Children Research Institute / Call PD at 785-1152.

May 2-4: Bullfrog USTA Southern Section Designated Boys and Girls 12s and 14s / Van Der Meer Tennis Center / Sanctioned / 250 of top 12s & 14s in Southeast. / TennisLink ID #704115808 / For entry/other information, contact Justyn Schelver at 785-8388 ext. 119.

May 15-17: 4^th annual Bluffton Today Open Tennis Tournament / Bluffton High School & satellite sites / Rated Adult doubles on clay; Age division Junior singles & doubles on hard, plus Adult/Child doubles / Information, call Brett Robertson at 816-2033.

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO

( ) You can fool some of the people some of the time …

( ) and that’s enough to make a decent living.

(___) -- W.C. Fields

-- Dennis Malick

Set for BillyBob Finals

TENNIS E-NEWS

Saturday, April 25, 2009 Vol. VIII, No. 42
2006 Winner of South Carolina Media Award
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

47 More Players Than in ‘08

24^th Annual BillyBob Sweats Through Three-Setters to Get to Sunday Morning Semis, Finals

Hilton Head Island SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – The competition certainly did match the weather in today’s quarterfinals and semifinals of the BillyBob Century Cup Doubles at South Beach Racquet Club. A couple walkovers resulted from players in two categories unable to compete with the unexpected heat in the semifinal rounds. The tournament finals and a semi or two will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday and finish in the afternoon.

The day got started on Court 1 with Liz and Jim Purcell setting the tone for the day in a 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 Mixed 80 (4.0) quarterfinal and protracted matches followed across the draws in the combined-age divisions. The jump from 103 individual players in the 2008 BillyBob to 150 this weekend left no doubt that the courts would be full and the action nonstop.
Here are the results of today’s matches.

80 Men’s Open (Quarterfinal Round) -- Roscoe Chambers / Matt Straut def. Patrick Mason / Allan Mason 7-6; 6-4; (Semifinal Round) -- Patrick Child / Mike O'Regan (1) def. Chambers / Straut 6-1; 6-2; Keith Hutcheson / Lawrence Taylor def. Scott Barrett / Milko Kostadinov (2) 5-7; 6-2; 7-5

80 Mixed Open (Quarterfinal Round) -- Patrick Child / Jill Wilson (1) def. Roscoe Chambers / Michelle Clark 2-6; 7-5; 6-0; Robin Fulton / Henry Iannuzzi def. Lisa Conrad / Lev Ozdemir 6-0; 6-1; Patricia Begley / Mike O’Regan def. Scott Barrett / Rachel Sigmon 6-3, 6-1; Don Sigmon / Jolene Watanabe def. Sandra Barrett / Milko Kostadinov (2) 6-2, 6-2

80 Mixed 4.0 (Quarterfinal Round) -- Marin Pasareanu / Tracy Sklarin def. Ken Greitsmann / Christy Rohlfing 6-2; 6-2; (Semifinal Round) --

Liz Purcell / Jim Purcell (1) def. Marie Egan / Scott Stevens 6-7; 7-6; 6-4; Keith Hutcheson / Jamie Hutcheson def. Pasareanu / Sklarin 6-2, 6-0

80 Women’s Open Women (Quarterfinal Round) -- Robin Fulton / Meri Lobel def. Robin Colket / Merrill Light 6-3; 6-3; (Semifinal Round) --

Michelle Clark / Jill Wilson def. Julie Child / Ann Hunt 6-1; 6-4; Fulton / Lobel def. Maureen Bush / Jolene Watanabe 6-3, 6-4

100 Men’s 4.5 (Quarterfinal Round) -- Ralph Huff / Matthew Straut def. Coulter Hughes / Joel Hawk 6-4; 4-6; 6-4; John Christensen / Joe Daniel def. Timothy Arr / Kent James 4-6; 7-6; 6-2; (Semifinal Round) -- Bruce Builder / Joe Mezera def. Huff / Straut Wo (ill); Wes Breinich / Bobby Tillison (1) def. Christensen / Daniel 6-1, 3-6, 6-4

100 Mixed 4.5 (Quarterfinal Round) -- Frank Meade / Allison Meade (3) def. David Bailey / Jennifer Thompson 4-6; 6-2; 6-2; John Christensen / Nancy Christensen def. Sandra Barrett / Mike Jauncey (1) 6-4; 6-3; Kathy Jenson / Robert Tillison (2) def. Steven Jones / Marilu Silva 6-1; 6-4; Maureen Bush / Don Hutchison (4) def. Wes Breinich / Susan Taylor 6-1; 6-2; (Semifinal Round) – Bush / Hutchison def. Christensen / Christensen 6-1, 6-4;

100 Women’s 4.5 (Quarterfinal Round) -- Millicent Charette / Liz Purcell def. Nancy Christensen / Janet Daniel 6-2; 6-2; Rochelle Decker / Marie Kuleba def. Mary O'Reilly / Helen Yselonia 7-6; 6-3; (Semifinal Round) – Amale Allen / Judy Levering (1) def. Charette / Purcell 6-2, 6-2; Nanci Staples / Susan Taylor (2) def. Decker / Kuleba 7-6; 6-2

120 Men’s 4.0 (Round of 16 Friday correction) – Allan Mason / Jim Purcell def. H. Kline / Dennis Peacock 6-1; 6-1; (Quarterfinal Round) -- Brent Gallagher / Gary Kocher def. Mason / Purcell 6-2; 6-0; Ralph Huff / Robert Shellard def. Joseph Hardy / Iwan Terenin 6-3; 4-6; 6-4; John Brummitt / Doug Luba def. Fred Carrillo / Bob Jettie 6-3; 6-1; Joseph Keenan / Wayne Lilley def. Ian Gentle / Mike Jauncey 6-4; 6-4; (Semifinal Round) -- Gallagher / Kocher def. Huff / Shellard Wo (ill); Brummitt / Luba def. Keenan / Lilley 7-6 (9); 6-4

120 Mixed 4.0 (Quarterfinal Round) -- Ian Gentle / Marie Kuleba def. Laura Lucas / Richard Van Hooser 6-2; 6-1; John Yselonia / Helen Yselonia def. Tony Schinto / Marilyn Yates 6-1; 6-0; Richard Prewitt / Sylvia Prewitt def. Gordon Levering / Judy Levering 6-4; 6-4; Frank Meade / Jackie Reynecke (1) def. Robert Blohm / Sharon Saupp 6-0; 6-0; (Semifinal Round) – Prewitt / Prewitt def. Yselonia / Yselonia; Gentle / Kuleba def. Meade / Reynecke

120 Women’s 4.0 (Semifinal Round) -- Sheila Smith / Phyllis Spehlmann def. Margaret Dreibelbis / Kathleen Graham 4-6; 6-3; 6-3; Judy Larkin / Donna Smorol def. Barbara Decker / Caroline Tucker 7-6; 6-4

140 Men’s 3.5 (Quarterfinal Round) -- John Martin / Robert Payne def. Donald Arboe / Keith Phoenix 6-1; 6-0; Dwight Hunting / Paul Williams def. Jack Gamer / Mike Levine 5-7; 6-4; 6-1; John Hanlin / William Stetson def. Bernie Brown / James Norton 7-5; 3-6; 7-6; (Semifinal Round) – Martin / Payne def. Hunting / Williams 6-0; 6-2;

150 Men’s 3.5 (Semifinal Round) -- Bob Graff / Dan Hofmann def. Lee Butler / Dennis Malick 6-1; 6-1; Ernie Clark / Joe Pizzat def. Don Coleman / Jim Norton 6-1, 6-2

Playoffs Over 2 Weekends in Late May

No HHI or CCTA Wild Cards for Adult State Championships

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – A first look at the draws set up for USTA League South Carolina Adult State Championships show no one is wild about our area teams. No HHI or Coastal Carolina team has received a wildcards to States.

In the 2.5 adult women, there will be 12 teams competing.(Grant Strand and Lexington received wild cards). In the 3.0 adult men, there will be 12 teams competing. (Lexington received the wild card); In the 3.5 adult men, there will be 16 teams competing. (Lexington and Lowcountry received wild cards)

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Two years ago TENNIS E-News ran a well-received series of excerpts from "The Code, The Players' Guide for Unofficiated Matches". You have asked for a repeat? You got it.

Body Movement: A player may feint with the body while the ball is in motion. A player may change position at any time, including while the server is tossing the ball. Any other movement or any sound that is made solely to distract an opponent, including, but not limited to, waving the arms or racket or stamping the feet, is not allowed.

*Note: TENNIS E-News is not making up these items. All are taken word-for-word from USTA's "The Code" that can be found in the "Friend at Court" handbook or as a stand-alone leaflet -- available by going to http://www.usta.com and selec ting "USTA Shop" and then "Books" on that page.

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Upcoming Tournaments/Activity:

Apr. 24-26: “BillyBob” Doubles Championships / South Beach Racquet Club / Combined age divisions in men’s, women's, mixed doubles / 80 & older, 100 & older, 120 & older, 140 & older, and 150 & older levels / For information, call Michael O'Keefe at 671-2215.

May 1-3: 3rd annual Banana Open Junior Challenge / Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center / Novice & Tournament boys & girls age-division singles / separate adult/junior run round robin May 1 / Benefit Children Research Institute / Call PD at 785-1152.

May 2-4: Bullfrog USTA Southern Section Designated Boys and Girls 12s and 14s / Van Der Meer Tennis Center / Sanctioned / 250 of top 12s & 14s in Southeast. / TennisLink ID #704115808 / For entry/other information, contact Justyn Schelver at 785-8388 ext. 119.

May 15-17: 4^th annual Bluffton Today Open Tennis Tournament / Bluffton High School & satellite sites / Rated Adult doubles on clay; Age division Junior singles & doubles on hard, plus Adult/Child doubles / Information, call Brett Robertson at 816-2033.

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO

( ) No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles,

( ) we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.

(___) -- PJ O’Rourke

-- Dennis Malick

Now for the Mixed

TENNIS E-NEWS

Friday, April 24, 2009 Vol. VIII, No. 41
2006 Winner of South Carolina Media Award
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

184 Entries

24^th Annual BillyBob Wraps Up Its First Day at South Beach Racquet Club

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – With 184 entrants, the 24^th annual BillyBob Century Cup Doubles got the first round under its belt this evening at South Beach Racquet Club. Quarterfinals and some semifinals will begin early Saturday and matches will continue through the day.

The significant increase in entries showed across the draws in the combined-age divisions of 80, 100, 120, 140 and 150. Each age division carries with it a rating limit. Exceptionally competitive matches, especially in the 80 Open Mixed Doubles, provided exhibition-quality entertainment while the annual Players’ Party was set up by presenting sponsor Salty Dog Café.

Here are the first-day results released by Tournament Director Michael O’Keefe. Players are from Hilton Head Island unless otherwise noted:

80 Men’s Open – Quarterfinal -- K. Hutcheson - L. Taylor (Bluffton) def. R. Gray - R. Pingree (Beaufort) 6-0; 6-0

80 Mixed Open – Round of 16 -- D. Sigmon - J. Wantanabe def. R. Coulton - J. Thompson 6-2; 6-2; R. Chambers - M. Clark (Beaufort) def. M. Gaynor - M. Sutcliffe 6-2; 6-3

100 Mixed (4.5) – Round of 16 -- D. Bailey - J. Thompson (Bluffton) def. J. Mondry - J. Veres (Cleveland OH) 6-2; 6-1; W. Breinich - S. Taylor def. N. Diroma - K. Greitsmann 6-1; 6-1

120 Men’s (4.0) – Round of 16 -- F. Carrillo - B. Jettie def. R. Awrey - B. Latham 1-6; 6-4; 6-4; H. Kline - D. Peacock def. A. Mason - J. Purcell 6-1; 6-1

120 Women’s (4.0) – Quarterfinals -- J. Larkin - D. Smorol def. N. Donohue - M. O'Reilly (West Orange NJ) 6-3; 7-5; B. Becker - C. Tucker def. M. Mastromatteo - B. Totman (East Sandwich MA) 4-6; 6-3; 6-3

Registration Form Attached

It’s Time for Pre-Registration of HHI Mixed Doubles League Teams

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-News) – The call is out for teams to register for Hilton Head Island Adult, Senior and Super Senior Mixed Doubles Leagues that will begin play shortly after the USTA League South Carolina Championships and run deep into the cooool summertime.

Coordinator Jackie Reynecke said that this year will offer a straight 2.5 mixed division for Adult and Senior and the new pilot program of Super Senior 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0. “Days of play for the 2.5 and Super Senior will be determined after we see how much interest there is in those divisions,” she said, adding that because of the new Super Senior Pilot Program for Mixed, the Super Senior Combo will be offered later in the summer in conjunction with regular Combo Season.

Reynecke is asking captains to pay special attention to match start times. “I would prefer that match times not be set as early as 2:30, she said, “This is an extremely hot time of the day, and many senior teams will have working players on their teams this year. If there is a facility issue in regards to playing times then matches might be moved away or to a neutral facility.”

Also, once the teams are established, Reynecke said that captains will be polled as whether to play a reduced format of two sets and a super tiebreak in lieu of a third set if needed or to play as we do in the spring best two out of three sets. “The majority vote will win as the entire league has to play under the same format,” she said. “I will not have seniors play on weekends – that will be the adult teams days and possibly some consideration for Super Seniors if needed.”

The pre-registration form is an attachment to this issue.

Finals of 2008 Season

Court Jesters Get Set for Super Senior National Championships in Arizona

BLUFFTON SC (TENNIS E-News) – The Sun City Court Jesters are “boarding the bus” to head for Surprise AZ to compete in the 2008 Super Senior National 6.0 Championships that begin Monday. The Jesters knew going into the Southern Section finals last month that both teams were going to Nationals. The Sun City team lost in that final, thus got the wild card. But the champion Atlanta team chose not to go Arizona and that allowed the Court Jesters to step up as THE Southern rep in the championships.

Four groups of four teams will being play Monday morning in what is designated as the 6.0 Division. Southern follows the strict 3.0 rating level, but Nationals use a combo format, meaning that a 3.5 and a 2.5 can team in a match. Also, this is the 2008 championship because it is the continuation of the season that began last fall and moved into November States and March Sectionals.

The Jesters will be encountering another aspect of advanced championship play that teams from our area have met earlier – facing “all-star” teams rather than teams that have competed in a straight league season. For instance, the Eastern team they will play Tuesday has a roster of two players from on city and one each from six other cities including Buffalo.

Here is the schedule:

Monday the 27^th

9 a.m. – vs. Missouri Valley/Kansas City

Tuesday the 28^th

10 a.m. – vs. Northern California/Napa Valley

3 p.m. – vs. Eastern/Buffalo area

Wednesday the 29^th

7:30 a.m. – Semifinals --

10 a.m. – Finals --

Since We Brought Up the Subject……...

In last week’s Family Circle Cup coverage, TENNIS E-NEWS mentioned a reserved box seat section labeled: Hebrews 11:1. Figuring you probably have not looked up the verse, here it is:

“Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. “

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USTA LEAGUE STANDINGS – TennisLink as of 4/23/09

Twisted Sisters Win Senior 3.5 Playoff; Another 3.0 Team Added to HHI List for State Championships

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – In the lone division playoff of the USTA League Spring season, the Spring Lake Twisted Sisters stayed unbeaten in the Senior Women’s 3.5s, winning 2-1 over Palmetto Dunes PDQ Wednesday on the winner’s courts.

Meanwhile, the Senior Men’s 3.0s sorted out their standings to determine seeds for the South Carolina Championships next month on Hilton Head Island, plus were awarded a third slot because an Aiken champion team pulled out of the tournament. The Spring Lake Lakers came in as HHI #1 and Country Club of Hilton Head as HHI #2. As the next eligible team that was available to play the championships, fourth place Port Royal Beach Bums will compete at States as HHI #3.

Here are the Senior standings and those for the startup CCTA Super Senior Mixed:

Hilton Head Island Senior Leagues

Level players Season Team Leaders as of 4/23/09

SM2.5 4/45 2/11 – 4/9 Country Club of HH champion at 6-3

SM3.0 14/166 1/26 – 4/20 Spring Lake Lakers champion at 12-1; Country Club of HH going to States as HHI #2; Port Royal Beach Bums going to States as HHI #3

SW3.0 12/143 2/3 – 4/21 Sea Pines CC Matchpoints champion at 11-0

SM3.5 13/168 1/28 – 4/22 Long Cove Mates champion at 12-0

SW3.5 18/225 2/11 – 4/11 Flight I – Spring Lake Twisted Sisters in 1st at 8-0; Flight II – Palmetto Dunes PDQ in first at 7-1; Spring Lake winner of playoff 2-1 for championship

SM4.0 7/77 1/27 – 4/21 Port Royal Pirates champion at 11-0; Indigo Run going to States as wildcard HHI #2

SW4.0 6/78 2/9 – 4/20 Port Royal Herricanes champion at 9-1

SM4.5 1/10 n/a Indigo Run Hogg Doggs

SW4.5 1/9 n/a Indigo Run Golden Bear Naked Ladies

Totals 76/921

Coastal Carolina Senior Leagues

Playing # of Teams/

Level players Season Team Leaders as of 4/23/09

SM2.5 2/20 2/26 – 4/23 Dataw Dynasores in first at 3-1; clinched

SM3.0 8/98 1/19 – 4/27 Sun City Slickers in first at 10-3

SW3.0 8/95 1/20 – 4/21 Dataw Darlins champions at 11-3

SM3.5 10/121 2/25 – 4/22 Sun City Spin Doctors champions at 9-0

SW3.5 9/110 2/25 – 4/22 Sun City Madam Butterflies champions at 8-0

SM4.0 3/28 2/12 – 4/23 Sun City Sun Strokes in first at 4-1

SW4.0 3/34 2/16 – 4/20 Springy Girls champions at 4-2

Totals 43/506

Coastal Carolina Super Senior Mixed Leagues as of 4/23/09

Playing # of Teams/

Level players Season Team Leaders as of 4/23/09

6.0 4/52 4/5 – 5/31 Dataw Dominos in first at 2-0

7.0 2/19 5/16 – 6/13 Not started yet

8.0 4/47 4/15 – 5/27 Habersham Hornets, Moss Creek tied at 2-0

Totals 10/118

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Two years ago TENNIS E-News ran a well-received series of excerpts from "The Code, The Players' Guide for Unofficiated Matches". You have asked for a repeat? You got it.

Does a player lose the point if an imaginary line in the extension of the net is crossed before or after hitting the ball? The player does not lose the point in either case provided the player does not touch the opponent’s court.

*Note: TENNIS E-News is not making up these items. All are taken word-for-word from USTA's "The Code" that can be found in the "Friend at Court" handbook or as a stand-alone leaflet -- available by going to http://www.usta.com and selecting "USTA Shop" and then "Books" on that page.

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Upcoming Tournaments/Activity:

Apr. 24-26: “BillyBob” Doubles Championships / South Beach Racquet Club / Combined age divisions in men’s, women's, mixed doubles / 80 & older, 100 & older, 120 & older, 140 & older, and 150 & older levels / For information, call Michael O'Keefe at 671-2215.

May 1-3: 3rd annual Banana Open Junior Challenge / Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center / Novice & Tournament boys & girls age-division singles / separate adult/junior run round robin May 1 / Benefit Children Research Institute / Call PD at 785-1152.

May 2-4: Bullfrog USTA Southern Section Designated Boys and Girls 12s and 14s / Van Der Meer Tennis Center / Sanctioned / 250 of top 12s & 14s in Southeast. / TennisLink ID #704115808 / For entry/other information, contact Justyn Schelver at 785-8388 ext. 119.

May 15-17: 4^th annual Bluffton Today Open Tennis Tournament / Bluffton High School & satellite sites / Rated Adult doubles on clay; Age division Junior singles & doubles on hard, plus Adult/Child doubles / Information, call Brett Robertson at 816-2033.

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO

( ) In Plant City FL, Robert Thompson and Taurus Morris were charged with armed burglary after taking a woman’s eggbeater

( ) from her at knifepoint. It was not reported why they wanted the eggbeater or why the victim had to be threatened at knifepoint to get it.

(___) -- “News of the Weird” in Funny Times

-- Dennis Malick

Told You So

TENNIS E-NEWS

Monday, April 20, 2009 Vol. VIII, No. 40
2006 Winner of South Carolina Media Award
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

L-I-S-I-C-K-I

Told you so!

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Family Circle Cup

Remembering Steffi and Watching Sabine …

Hilton Head Island SC (TENNIS E-News) – In the Spring of 1986, a German teenager spent a good bit of a week practicing on Court 10 at Port Royal Racquet Club. That Sunday afternoon, she won her first professional tournament, upsetting Chris Evert 6-4, 7-5 for the Family Circle Cup championship at Sea Pines Racquet Club. Tennis World: Meet Steffi Graf.

In the Spring of 2009, another German teenager won her first professional tournament, overpowering a higher-seeded Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-4 for the Family Circle Cup championship in Charleston. Tennis World: Meet Sabine Lisicki.

Some day someone needs to erect a plaque to Graf on PRRC’s historic Court 10. It’s up to FCC to do a Lisicki court.

Staying cooooooooool behind the bar – then and now …

Steve Kennedy was serving drinks at Evonne’s and Player’s Club back in the earlier days of Family Circle Cup on Hilton Head Island. Having moved to the Charleston area to help care for his Mom almost 10 years ago, Steve has schlepping favorite fresh fruit smoothies and cocktails at Diego’s stadium-side refresharena.

With spectators donning warm-ups and watching matches from under tennis-arty blankees, business was not its greatest. Last year, the crowd was sweating. This year: “down about 20%,” Steve said Thursday. Very brisk winds and low temps, prompted one booth to add hot chocolate to the menu, promoted by a last-minute hand-drawn sign.

You Just Sign Up at the Tournament Booths and Sometimes …

HHIslander Lynsey Rini, like thousands of tournamentgoers, made sure to stop at all the promotion booths, pick up the goodies, sign up for drawings, etc., except Lynsey ended up on Stadium Court doing drills on opening night as part of a Charleston Post & Courier promotion.

A relatively new-to-the-game player, she said the experience was “somewhat different than what I was expecting. It was the equivalent of throwing foul shots during the halftime of a basketball game. It was a drill and skills promotion for about 10 minutes in between the first and second tournament sessions.”

Well, yes, Lynsey, but, hey, it was Family Circle Stadium Court. You played Stadium Court, and you take those shots when you can get them.

Play Starts Friday

Still Want To Play the BillyBob? Catch Michael Tuesday and Be Nice

Hilton Head Island SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – The entry deadline for this weekend’s 24^th annual BillyBob Century Cup Doubles just passed, but if you call Tournament Director Michael O’Keefe Tuesday at South Beach Racquet Club and talk nicely to him, you can get into the tournament.

Play will begin Friday and continue through the weekend in men’s, women’s and mixed doubles in combined ages of 80, 100, 120, 140 and 150 years, with rating restrictions applying. By midday today, the entry numbers were above last year and, the director said, draws are especially full in the mixed doubles categories.

Call the Racquet Club at 671-2215.

8.0 Senior Team Needs Players

CCTA Still Accepting Team Registration for Mixed Doubles Season

BLUFFTON SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – The Coastal Carolina Tennis Association Mixed Doubles Season is shaping up and will be opening registration on Tennis Link soon, CCTA Mixed Coordinator Sally Harvey reports, but there is still time to get a team in. One 8.0 Senior team is looking for players.

The CCTA league will run June-August with the South Carolina State Championships Sept. 12-14 in Charleston. To contact the coordinator, email sharv@islc.net.

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Two years ago TENNIS E-News ran a well-received series of excerpts from "The Code, The Players' Guide for Unofficiated Matches". You have asked for a repeat? You got it.

Can a vibraton damping devices be placed on the strings of a racket? Yes, but these devices may only be placed outside the pattern of the crossed strings.

If a player’s racket strings break, can the player continue playing additional points? Yes.

*Note: TENNIS E-News is not making up these items. All are taken word-for-word from USTA's "The Code" that can be found in the "Friend at Court" handbook or as a stand-alone leaflet -- available by going to http://www.usta.com and selec ting "USTA Shop" and then "Books" on that page.

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Upcoming Tournaments/Activity:

Apr. 24-26: “BillyBob” Doubles Championships / South Beach Racquet Club / Combined age divisions in men’s, women's, mixed doubles / 80 & older, 100 & older, 120 & older, 140 & older, and 150 & older levels / For information, call Michael O'Keefe at 671-2215.

May 1-3: 3rd annual Banana Open Junior Challenge / Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center / Novice & Tournament boys & girls age-division singles / separate adult/junior run round robin May 1 / Benefit Children Research Institute / Call PD at 785-1152.

May 2-4: Bullfrog USTA Southern Section Designated Boys and Girls 12s and 14s / Van Der Meer Tennis Center / Sanctioned / 250 of top 12s & 14s in Southeast. / TennisLink ID #704115808 / For entry/other information, contact Justyn Schelver at 785-8388 ext. 119.

May 15-17: 4^th annual Bluffton Today Open Tennis Tournament / Bluffton High School & satellite sites / Rated Adult doubles on clay; Age division Junior singles & doubles on hard, plus Adult/Child doubles / Information, call Brett Robertson at 816-2033.

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO

( ) Assistant football coaches Scott Coy and Darren DeMeio of Westminster College (PA), who were in Nashville TN for a coaches’

( ) convention, were seriously injured during 4 a.m. horseplay in their hotel. The men, who weigh a combined 525 pounds, crashed

(___) through a double-paned window in their fourth floor room and fell to the ground in their underwear.

-- “News of the Weird” in Funny Times

-- Dennis Malick

WWLRD?

TENNIS E-NEWS

Friday, April 17, 2009 Vol. VIII, No. 39
2006 Winner of South Carolina Media Award
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Advancing at Family Circle Cup

WWLRD? It’s Not Just Smash-Mouth Tennis When Lisa Raymond Is Holding Court

DANIEL ISLAND, CHARLESTON SC (TENNIS E-News) – When Gavin Cox tipped us on how to learn by watching matches at Family Circle Cup, we picked the subject: What Would Lisa Raymond Do? The veteran doubles specialist and Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic are the top seeds and into the semifinals.

WWLRD? In the second set of the quarterfinals today, Raymond hit the ball (not counting serves) 36 times -- 31 of those went crosscourt to the deep player, a 32^nd was a lob deep to the ad corner. Only four balls off Raymond’s racket were touched at net – of note because 6’3” Olga Govortsova was roving there most of the time while Chin-wei Chann was chasing in backcourt. Two framed returns of serve by Raymond were put away by the opponents at net.

Serves throughout for Raymond were well-placed 85 mph spinners. She doublefaulted to start one game at mid-second set, then hit three unreturnable serves and a fourth that blooped back and Peschke volleyed away for the game winner.

Yeh. Probably a hint or two of winning doubles strategy there.

WWEDD? Top seed Elena Dementieva stroked her way to serving for the first – and, as it would turn out, only – complete set. She and Dominika Cibulkova went back and forth attacking lines to get to the point of Dementieva up 5-4. During a series of long rallies in the set game, the #1 seed hit every ball into the deep backcourt nowhere near a line … except for one framed hit. She won the game at love. Cibulkova retired with a leg injury at 1-0 in the second set.

L-I-S-I-C-K-I. We spelled it yesterday so Venus would remember. We spell it again so you can remember. The 19-year-old German’s followup against Elena Vesnina was a show of 110 mph serves, including one at 123, one at 117 to start the second set, a 119 to start the fourth game of that set and a slow 109 mph ace down the middle to finish the love set. 6-4, 6-0. Remember L-I-S-I-C-K-I.

We’ll catch you next on the Hilton Head Island side of the bridge…after the golfers get teed off and leave.

2^nd Annual Charity Pro-Pro Scheduled for Next Month at South Beach Racquet Club

Hilton Head Island SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – The 2nd annual Katie Sigmon's Hope Pro-Pro Tennis Exhibition and Dinner on Saturday, May 30, conducted by South Beach Racquet Club. The pros will play four matches from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the racquet club, with the benefit dinner to follow.

Pros committed thus far include Lee Holyoak, Mike Caboy, Pat Mason. Michael Sutcliffe, Matt Wuller, Mike O'Regan and Sarah (Riske) McGlamery.

The event again will benefit Katie Sigmon, niece of South Beach owners Don and Rachel Sigmon. Katie suffered a hypoxic brain injury several few years ago. Last year's event raised several thousand dollars toward her care.

For more information and to enter, call South Beach Racquet Club at 671-2215.

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Two years ago TENNIS E-News ran a well-received series of excerpts from "The Code, The Players' Guide for Unofficiated Matches". You have asked for a repeat? You got it.

Obvious faults: player shall not put into play or hit over the net an obvious fault. To do so constitutes rudeness and may even be a form of gamesmanship. On the other hand, if a player does not call a serve a fault and gives the opponent the benefit of a close call, the server is not entitled to replay the point.

*Note: TENNIS E-News is not making up these items. All are taken word-for-word from USTA's "The Code" that can be found in the "Friend at Court" handbook or as a stand-alone leaflet -- available by going to http://www.usta.com and selec ting "USTA Shop" and then "Books" on that page.

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Upcoming Tournaments/Activity:

Apr. 24-26: “BillyBob” Doubles Championships / South Beach Racquet Club / Combined age divisions in men’s, women's, mixed doubles / 80 & older, 100 & older, 120 & older, 140 & older, and 150 & older levels / For information, call Michael O'Keefe at 671-2215.

May 1-3: 3rd annual Banana Open Junior Challenge / Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center / Novice & Tournament boys & girls age-division singles / separate adult/junior run round robin May 1 / Benefit Children Research Institute / Call PD at 785-1152.

May 2-4: Bullfrog USTA Southern Section Designated Boys and Girls 12s and 14s / Van Der Meer Tennis Center / Sanctioned / 250 of top 12s & 14s in Southeast. / TennisLink ID #704115808 / For entry/other information, contact Justyn Schelver at 785-8388 ext. 119.

May 15-17: 4^th annual Bluffton Today Open Tennis Tournament / Bluffton High School & satellite sites / Rated Adult doubles on clay; Age division Junior singles & doubles on hard, plus Adult/Child doubles / Information, call Brett Robertson at 816-2033.

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO

( ) Ice cream flavors to celebrate the stimulus package:

( ) Tax-cutterscotch, Employ-mint Bene-bits, Chunky Money, Rocky Roads, Our Grandkids Cookies & Dough,

(___) Fudge’n da books & Break’n da Mint.

-- Cartoonist M. Wuerker and Politico

-- Dennis Malick