Panhandle Tennis Blog: Tournament Winners, More

Pensacola Adult Clay Court Championships

This Pensacola Adult Clay Court Championships is on the USTA National 500 list of tournaments for 2015.

The Men’s and Women’s Open divisions will receive points toward their National 500 ranking.

The event will be held on Feb. 26-March 1 at the Roger Scott tennis Center.

For more information about the tournament or to register, go to:
http://www.rogerscotttennis.com/pensacola-adult-clay-court-championships.html

Destin’s Guarachi Captures Another Pro Doubles Title

Alexa Guarachi (left) and Ayaka Okuno (Right)

Over the week of Jan. 19-25, top seeded Alexa Guarachi (Destin) and Ayaka Okuno (Japan) defeated #3 seeded Lena Litvak (USA)/Sonja Molnar (CAN) 7-5, 6-3 in Saint-Martin, France. The title was Guarachi’s sixth ITF Doubles title in the last 12 months all with different partners. Guarachi won two rounds of singles in the tournament.

Thomasville, Ga Wins the Tops’L Men’s 4.5/5.0 Interstate Team Challenge

One of the most competitive tennis events along the Emerald Coast is the annual Men’s 4.5/5.0 Interstate Team Challenge held at Tops’L Beach and Racquet Resort near Destin. The 2015 event was won by the Thomasville, Ga., team which defeated the host Tops’L team in the finals.  Seven teams participated in the three-day event.

In addition to the finalists, teams came from Albany and Donalsonville, Ga., Paducah, Ky., New Orleans, La., and Nashville, Tenn. Players enjoyed a courtside Continental Breakfast on Friday and Saturday and a Player’s Party and raffle at Club Tiki at Tops’L on Friday evening. Club Tiki also held a Saturday luncheon for the players.

Tops’L and neighboring resort Sandestin each hold several NTRP-based men’s and women’s team challenges each year. Tops’L Director of Tennis Joe D’Aleo and Head Professional Sam Vickroy provide a very competitive event every year for the players, many of whom return in April for The Helen Drake Adult Designated tournament.

Jurkenas, Plikat Selected for UWF Hall of Fame

The University of West Florida (UWF) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics inducted its 2014-15 Hall of Fame Class on January 23, 2015. Included in the five new inductees were tennis players Paulius Jurkenas and Nicole Plikat.

Jurkenas of Siauliai, Lithuania helped UWF to its first two NCAA Division II National Championships in 2004 and 2005. For a more in-depth account of his record click here: http://goargos.com/news/2015/1/20/MTEN_0120155556.aspx

Jevenstedt, Germany native Nicole Plikat led the women’s Argos tennis team to the NCAA Division II semifinals in 2004 and the quarterfinals in 2005. To read her complete profile click here: http://goargos.com/news/2015/1/23/GEN_0123150356.aspx

Weaver Wins Girls 14 Singles, Ephron Wins Boys 18 Doubles in Mobile

Pace’s Elena Weaver won the Girls 14 singles championship at the 2015 USTA Closed Regional held in Mobile, Ala., on February 14-16, 2015. Pensacola’s Chris Ephron teamed with Palm Coast’s Davey Roberts to win the Boys 18 doubles championship at the same tournament.

While Weaver was the number 1 seed, she still swept the field without the loss of a set. Weaver defeated #2 seed Alyse Cormier of Eunice, La., 6-3, 6-1 in the final.

Other Region 1 West girls in the draw included Emmy Dobbins (Panama City), Elizabeth Nowak and Annalisa Smith (Pensacola) and Caraline Scheufler (Gulf Breeze).

Ephron and Roberts, #1 seeds in doubles, defeated Sam Dern (Boca Raton) and John Carlin (Fort Myers) 8-3 to win the doubles title.

In addition to being the #1 seed in doubles, Ephron was the #1 seed in singles. He was upset in the first round by Jayman Jhattu of Duluth, Ga., 6-4, 6-3. However, Ephron came back to win five matches and the consolation championship 6-1, 5-1, ret., over Zack Walker of Stuart, Fla. Ephron also defeated #2 seed Dern 6-1, 6-0 in the consolation.

Other Region 1 West boys in the tournament included Justin Lyons and Gordon Smith (Pensacola), Daniel Lozier (Lynn Haven), Frank Muldowney (Mary Esther) and Colin Scheufler (Gulf Breeze).

12th Annual Pensacola Pink Ribbon Ladies Doubles Coming in April

This compass draw ladies doubles tournament will be held April 23-25, 2015 at Roger Scott Tennis Center in Pensacola.

The opening of registration for this hugely popular tournament is Saturday, February 21 from 1 to 2:30PM at Roger Scott Tennis Center.

This year’s entrants will be limited to 96 teams. For more information go to: www.rogerscotttennis.com/12th-annual-pink-ribbon-tennis-tournament.html