And the winner is .......

TENNIS E-NEWS

Saturday, May 02, 2009 Vol. VIII, No. 47
2006 Winner of South Carolina Media Award
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Friends of the Children

Drawings, Finals Sunday at 3^rd Annual BANANA OPEN Junior Challenge at Palmetto Dunes

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – Championship matches and drawings of top prizes are on tap Sunday in the 3^rd annual Banana Open Junior Challenge at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center, all being played for the benefit of the Charles P. Darby Children’s Research Institute at Medical University of South Carolina.

Drawings for prizes that include a seven-night stay at a destination of the winner’s choice will follow the championship matches in tournament and novice level divisions. Friends of the Children and Hilton Head Prep Moms for Research are hosting the third annual run of the junior competition. Tickets are $20 each or three for $50. Ticketholders do not have to be present to win.

For further information, call Palmetto Dunes at 785-1152.

Free to Spectators

3 HHI Juniors Advance in Bullfrog USTA Southern Section Designated

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – Just three of the 16 Hilton Head Island area players got through Day One main draws of the Bullfrog USTA Southern Section Designated tournament for 12s and 14s being played at Van Der Meer Tennis Center and satellite sites. HHI’s Hayley Carter, Girls’ 14s top seed, won impressively – 6-0, 6-0 over Anastasia Morgus of Cary NC.

In Girls’ 12s, Islander Jenai Charles won her Rounds of 64 and 32 to advance to Sunday’s Round of 16. She defeated #5 seed Madeline Roloh of Lexington KY in the Round of 32. Likewise, Boys’ 14 #3 seed Jared Woodson of HHI won his Rounds of 64 and 32.

Matches will begin early Sunday with admission free to spectators at all sites. Carter will play at 9:30 at HHI Beach & Tennis; Charles is set for 10:45 at Beach & Tennis; Woodson will be at Van Der Meer for a 11 a.m. start. Backdraw matches at Chaplin Public Tennis Center and Hilton Head Island High School and Middle School will begin in late morning. Play will continue through the day, with semifinal and final rounds on Monday.

For complete draws, times, results and match locations, go to www.usta.com and select TennisLink, then Tournaments, and use ID # 704115809.

Saturday through Monday on HHI

21 HHI, CCTA Teams Ready for Senior State Championships Next Weekend

HILTON HEAD ISLAND SC (TENNIS E-NEWS) – Barring dropouts from upstate before then, Hilton Head Island and Coastal Carolina will have 21 teams competing next weekend in the USTA League South Carolina State Championships. Sea Pines Racquet Club again will serve as headquarters for the playoffs that are in their fifth year here.

Starting early Saturday morning, matches will be played at Sea Pines R.C. and satellite sites – Sea Pines Country Club, South Beach, Moss Creek, Country Club of Hilton Head, Long Cove and Indigo Run. This is the first Spring season that HHI and CCTA have competed as separate districts and combined they make up a fifth of the 98 total teams and more than 1,000 players entered in the state championships.

Last year, 27 teams from this area advanced to States. Biggest dropoff this year is in the 3.5 divisions – last year seven teams, this year four.

Players will get started with a big party Friday evening, then get into matches Saturday and Sunday that will be in-group round robins with the exception of Women’s 4.5 that has only four teams competing. Winners of the groups, plus a few wildcards, will advance to Monday morning semifinals, followed by finals. Champions will qualify for the Southern Section Championships July 25-Aug. 2 in Birmingham AL.

Here is the lineup of HHI and CCTA teams headed to States with captains’ names in (parentheses):

M2.5 – HHI/Country Club of Hilton Head (Dennis Snyder); CCTA/Dataw Dynasores (Richard Purdy)

M3.0 – HHI #1/Spring Lake Lakers (Tom Larkin); HHI #2/Country Club of Hilton Head (David Crespan); HHI #3/Port Royal Beach Bums – (John Kellom); CCTA #1/Sun City Slickers (Mike Brennan); CCTA #2/Belfair-Bluffton Bashers (Jack Williams)

W3.0 – HHI #1/Sea Pines Country Club Matchpoints (Margaret Miner); HHI #2/South Beach Racqueteers (Janet England); CCTA #1/Dataw Darlins (Barbara Krekehl); CCTA #2/Sun City Sweet Shots (Jane Brown)

M3.5 – HHI/Long Cove Mates (Courtland Babcock); CCTA/Sun City Spin Doctors (Bill Fluharty)

W3.5 – HHI/Spring Lake Twisted Sisters (Donna Smorol); CCTA/Sun City Madam Butterflies (Janet Palmer)

M4.0 – HHI #1/Port Royal Pirates (Vinnie Cook); HHI #2/Indigo Run (Rich Rickenbach; CCTA/Sun City Gnats (Michael Nicoletti)

W4.0 – HHI/Port Royal Herricanes (Judy Barons); CCTA/Springy Girls (Kathy Hyatt)

M4.5 – HHI/Indigo Run Hogg Doggs (Wes Breinich)

W4.5 – HHI/Indigo Run Golden Bear Naked Ladies (Nancy Staple)

Summer League

Team Looking for Players

3.5/4.0 – A mixed doubles team is forming a team at The Haven (Del Webb community off New Riverside in Bluffton - near Palmetto Bluff)and is looking for 3.5/4.0 men and women to fill out the roster. Contact Chuck Mathieu 815-2857 or dc99run@hargray.com

Players Looking for a Team

3.0 – Two 3.0 players are looking for a team for the summer senior mixed season. Contact Steve or Betty Ziplow at bziplow@hargray.com.

3.0 – 3.0 Woman is looking for a summer mixed adult or senior team. Email Dr.Cindy1@verizon.net.

Looking for Players or a Team

4.0 – Players are interested in forming a mixed doubles team in Palmetto Bluff or joining with another team for the summer season. Contact Maria Brittis at sales@fullerbrushhome.com.

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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.

What happens if the ball hits a player’s hat that landed on the court earlier in the point? The ball remains in play because the opponent did not ask for a let. When play continued after the hat landed on the court, the hat became part of the 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 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:

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.

June 5-7: The Banana Open / Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center / Men’s & Women’s singles and doubles, plus mixed doubles / Rating levels 2.5 through Open / Winners advance to Banana Open Challenge in October / Call PD at 785-1152.

June 18-21: Sun City Senior Doubles Tournament / Sun City Tennis Club / USTA-sanctioned age and rating divisions in men’s, women’s & mixed doubles / TennisLink ID #704100909 / for additional info contact Ernie Clark at tennisracquets@yahoo.com.

TENNIS E-News FootNote

ooooO

( ) BillyBob Tournament Director Michael O’Keefe is still wondering about for the players who, after their match, turned in a can

( ) of very used Wilson TI 3 balls rather than the official Prince Tour balls that were given to play their match.

(___) Dem balls, dem balls am uuuuuuuused balls.

-- Dennis Malick