From left: East 60s captain Bill Forray with the Florida Cup trophy upon Steve Cahall clinching the Cup for the East, with Tournament Director Mark Taylor
The East team took back the Florida Cup last weekend in the 14th edition of the annual contest, defeating the West team 29-21 in men’s age 35-80 division singles and doubles play.
Held at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, the East won for only the fourth time in the history of the South Florida competition.
“The 2017 Florida Cup set a few records with the largest winning roster of 34 players for the East, 50 matches taking the court, and 24 first-time participants on both rosters,” said Tournament Director Mark Taylor. “There were no defaulted matches for the first time in Cup history. Overall, 59 players participated in the annual Davis Cup-style team event.”
The East squad ran out to a 13-7 advantage after the Saturday singles matches highlighted by three-set wins by Frank Vermeer (45s), Jeff Burnett (50s) and Mirek Wierzbicki (60s).
“The high-quality 45s match may have been the best of the weekend with Rollyson/Muller for the West edging past Harrison/Vermeer of the East 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-4,” Taylor said.
The East closed Day 1 play leading 18-12. Needing only eight victories on Sunday to win the Cup, the East got six of those in the early Sunday matches with straight-set wins by Daniel Stover (35s), Steve Winsor (55s), Bill Forray (60s), Jeff Feldman (65s), James Pressly (70s), and Steve Lunsford (75s).
The West rally fell short when Steve Cahall clinched the Cup for the East with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Dan McClure.
The 2018 Florida Cup returns to the West Coast for the 15th annual matches next April.
Full results:
35s (East won 3-2)
Eddie Pacheco (E) def. Brandon Muth (W) 6-4, 6-3
Reinaldo Valor (W) def. Daniel Stover (E) 6-3, 6-4
Emilio Baez/Pacheco (E) def. Joel Helm/Muth (W) 6-2, 6-4
Daniel Stover (E) def. Brandon Muth (W) 6-1, 6-0
Reinaldo Valor (W) def. Eddie Pacheco (E) 6-4, 7-5
40s (West won 3-2)
Chris Pressley (E) def. Jamie Feagan (W) 6-1, 6-2
Mark Thompson (W) def. JT Thatcher (E) 6-2, 6-2
Feagan/Thompson (W) def. Bassel Eissa/Thatcher (E) 6-2, 6-1
Jamie Feagan (W) def. JT Thatcher (E) 6-4, 6-4
Chris Pressley (E) def. Mark Thompson (W) 2-6, 6-3, ret.
45s (West won 3-2)
Frank Vermeer (E) def. Mark Palus (W) 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
Chris Muller (W) def. Kam Kutcha 6-2, 6-4
Rhett Rollyson/Muller (W) def. Mark Harrison/Vermeer (E) 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-4
Chris Muller (W) def. Frank Vermeer (E) 3-3, ret.
Kam Kutcha (E) def. Rhett Rollyson (W) 6-4, 6-4
50s (West won 3-2)
Matt Litsky (W) def. Horacio Rearte (E) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Jeff Burnett (E) def. Cliff Coleman (W) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Alex Ringvald/Billy Harris (E) def. Litsky/Coleman (W) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
Matt Litsky (W) def. Jeff Burnett (E) 6-0, 6-1
Cliff Coleman (W) def. Billy Harris (E) 6-3, 6-4
55s (East won 4-1)
Steve Winsor (E) def. Oliver Stenger (W) 6-1, 6-4
Steve Rosen (E) def. Jeff Hossler (W) 6-0, 6-3
Dan Behling/Hossler (W) def. George Kramer/Winsor (E) 6-2, 6-1
Steve Winsor (E) def. Jeff Hossler (W) 6-0, 6-1
Steve Rosen (E) def. Oliver Stenger (W) 6-2, 0-6, 1-1 ret.
60s (East won 5-0)
Mirek Wierzbicki (E) def. Robert Graham (W) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
Steve Cahall (E) def. Hank Ream (W) 6-3, 6-4
Bill Forray/Bob Traylor (E) def. Dan McClure/Graham 7-6(1), 6-1
Bill Forray (E) def. Hank Ream (W) 6-2, 6-1
Steve Cahall (E) def. Dan McClure (W) 6-1, 6-4
65s (West won 3-2)
Will Rogers (W) def. Jeff Feldman (E) 7-6 (5), 6-1
Robert Green (W) def. Sandy Fisher (E) 5-7, 6-4, 1-3 ret.
Bruce Barrett/Bill Gatlin (E) def. Howie Ames/Rogers (W) 7-6 (4), 6-2
Jeff Feldman (E) def. Robert Green (W) 6-1, 6-2
Will Rogers (W) def. Sandy Fisher (E) 6-0, 6-1
70s (East won 5-0)
James Pressly (E) def. Bill Christensen (W) 6-2, 6-0
Owen Robertson (E) def. Larry Albritton (W) 6-4, 7-5
Gerald Chodak/Richard Ward (E) def. Rich Bruer/Christensen (W) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
James Pressly (E) def. Larry Albritton (W) 6-2, 6-3
Owen Robertson (E) def. Bill Christensen (W) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
75s (East won 3-2)
Alan Spurling (E) def. Fred Drilling (W) 6-2, 6-3
Allan Carter (E) def. Barry Shollenberger (W) 6-3, 6-2
Drilling/Shollenberger (W) def. Steve Lunsford/William Poist (E) 6-1, 6-2
Steve Lunsford (E) def. Barry Shollenberger (W) 6-2, 6-3
Fred Drilling (W) def. Allan Carter (E) 7-5, 6-1
80s (West won 4-1)
Gordon Hammes (W) def. Brian Squire (E) 6-0, 6-1
Dick Weaver (E) def. David Seifer (W) 6-0, 6-1
Hammes/Seifer (W) def. Mauro Dominguez/Howard Kesslin (E) 6-2, 6-3
David Seifer (W) def. Brian Squire (E) 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
Gordon Hammes (W) def. Dick Weaver (E) 6-2, 6-1
For additional tournament information go to http://tennislink.usta.com//tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=200280.
