If you missed the excitement of the Club Championships Singles event or the camaraderie of the Tennis Family Night Dinner, do not fear, some more scintillating tennis entertainment is almost here.
Doubles Championships
Next up on the Club’s tennis scene is the Club Championships Men’s and Women’s Doubles events. To date, we have 20 women's and 14 men’s teams registered for the events, significantly more participants than we saw in the singles.
With several newcomers in the mix this year, it will be a challenge for Defending Champions to hold onto their titles. The February 2nd deadline is approaching fast (8 days), so if you haven’t yet registered, get yourself a partner and get some practice together before the event. You can enter online by clicking here.
Memorial Foundation Event
Shortly after we crown the Club’s Men’s and Women’s Doubles Champions, one of the more important tennis events of the year will come to Gulf Harbour’s courts. On Saturday, February 20, the Gulf Harbour Memorial Foundation’s fundraising effort will be sparked by a tennis funfest, including competitions, auctions, raffles, and more.
Themed “Up, Up and Away,” this year’s fundraising activities could push the Foundation’s historic fundraising efforts over the $1 million mark. Our tennis members have contributed significantly in the past and we are hoping to top last year’s mark.
Thanks to the generosity of several members, with Bill and Ann Wright, Bernie and Penny Klotz, Rick and Meg Jacobs, and Jim & Kathy Masiello among the most generous, we raised several thousand for our neighbors in Harlem Heights. This year’s proceeds will go to Lee Memorial Cardiac Care, United Veterans of Lee County, and CCMI, Inc. which supplies meals to some of the less fortunate populations in Lee County.
Members Corner
There are so many of our tennis members fighting heroic battles, particularly with health issues of their own or their loved ones that I think we could dedicate an entire blog to those in need of our support and positive energy. However, given time and space constraints, I'd just like to mention that our Tennis Committee Chairperson, Bob Ostrom, and Team Captains Connie Hess, and Sally Mellendorf are particularly in need of our support.
On a brighter note, Pam Lemon and Robin Correnti
demonstrated their athletic prowess and versatility by capturing the Member-Member Golf event this past weekend. Congratulations are certainly in order for that accomplishment.
Team Report
Gulf Harbour's teams continue to do more than hold their own in the Lee County women's and men's leagues. Leading the way for our women is our 3.0-Minus team, which has stretched its division lead to 30 points, despite injuries to Captain Jenny King. Also dominating their division are the ladies of our 50-Plus Bronze team, who are tightening their grip on first place. They lead the next best team by 27 points.
Our 3.0 Double Trouble team is now in second place by three points after holding the division lead for much of the first half of the season. They should be in the hunt for first all the way to the end despite the injury to Co-Captain Linda VanWyk.
Other top-five women's teams include the Defending Champion 50-Plus Gold team, which is 14 points behind the division leader, and solidly in third. With about half the season yet to be played, a repeat is still within reach. The 3.5-Minus Sure Shots are clinging to fifth, although they have slipped from the second-place slot they held at last report.
Our final top-five women's team is the 50-plus Silver Belles, which climbed three spots to fourth position since the last update. Although not in the top-five, the 50-Plus Silver Strings desrve mention for having climbed six spots to break into the top ten for the first time this season. They now hold the eighth spot.
Our 50-Plus men's teams continue to represent the Club with distinction as well. Our White-A team is holding tight to the four-point lead it has held for the past five weeks of play, and are playing as though they have no intentions of losing ground. On the strength of a sweep in their last match, the 69-ers of the 70-Plus League have eased into second place, and trail the first place team by only one point.
The Red-A team is tied for second, but slipped further behind the No.1 team, which now leads by five points. After clinging to first place for much of the season, Blue-B has dropped into a second-place tie after losing three of four individual matches to the new division leader last time out. The deficit is only one point so there is no need for alarm.
White-C currently sits in third, but has some major catching up to do if it is to catch the leader; and Blue-B is clinging to the top-five, sitting tied for fifth with Legends. Remember, you can find our teams' home schedule by going to the Tennis Teams & Leagues page of the Club website.
Your Pros
Your pros will be back in Pro League action ths Friday at Bonita Bay. Joel's second-place team will take on Mike's third-place team, and T. A.'s league-trailing squad will face the league leaders. T. A.'s team closed the gap a wee bit last match by beating Mike's team six points to four, and will be seeking to gain some more ground this week.
Tennis on TV
If watching Pro League isn't enough for you, the Australian Open has offered up some awesome play thus far. They are into the quarterfinals with the best players in the world battling for the decade's first Grand Slam. Click here for the Australian Open television schedule.
Until the next time, remember that in doubles, every ball is your ball unless your partner gets there first or is position to hit a better shot! game, set, match...
No comments:
Post a Comment