Pinellas Wins 2 at USTA Florida League 55 & Over Sectionals Tennis

Pinellas County (Clearwater, St. Pete), which last year won more USTA Florida League Sectionals titles than any other county, picked up where it left off with two titles over the weekend at the 2016 USTA Florida Adult 55 & Over 3.0/4.0 Sectional Championships. Clay (Fleming Island) and Marion (Ocala) counties were also winners on April 22-24 at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach.

Marion County picked up its third straight win in the 55 & Over Men’s 3.0 Division, while Pinellas denied Duval County a second straight title in the Women’s 4.0, defeating the team representing Jacksonville’s Southside Tennis in the final.

The Men’s 4.0 final could not have been tighter as Pinellas edged Broward 2-1, with all three matches extended to deciding super-tiebreakers. Pinellas’ Women’s 4.0 final ran along the same route with two super-tiebreakers and the third match decided 7-6, 7-6.

Teams consisting of three doubles lines competed in a non-elimination round-robin format. The winner of each flight/division was determined by team matches won. The winner of each flight then advanced into a single-elimination semifinal followed by the final. NTRP levels of play were 3.0 and 4.0. For more information on NTRP levels go to www.usta.com/Adult-Tennis/USTA-League/Information/About_NTRP.

The men’s and women’s division winners will next advance to represent the USTA Florida Section at the USTA League Adult 55 & Over 3.0/4.0 National Championships on Oct. 21-23, 2016 in Surprise, Ariz., at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Club.

Division results:

55 & Over Men’s 4.0 Division

Final: Pinellas County (McMullen Tennis Center, Clearwater) d. Broward County (City of Oakland Park) 2-1
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Michael Kelly/Roland Schwend (Broward) d. Barry Shollenberger/Terry Tetzlaff 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (super-tiebreaker)
No. 2 Doubles: John Eifert/David Biren (Pinellas) d. Bill Day/Chuck Wainwright 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (super-tiebreaker)
No. 3 Doubles: Tom Keller/Daniel Olds (Pinellas) d. Jonathan Rubin/Walter Lentz 6-7, 7-6, 1-0 (super-tiebreaker)
Clearwater Season Roster: Ronald Massey (captain), John Eifert, Mark Wolfson, David Biren, Tim Jennings, Jay Bortner, Brian Kenney, Terry Tetzlaff, Barry Shollenberger, Tom Keller, Rick Meriwether, Albert Alhadeff, Daniel Olds, Roland Klieve

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55 & Over Women’s 4.0 Division

Final: Pinellas County (St. Pete Tennis Center) d. Duval County (Southside Tennis, Jacksonville) 2-1
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Kay Caldwell/Sandy Trail (Pinellas) d. Diane Langert/Pam Tyler 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (super-tiebreaker)
No. 2 Doubles: Sharon Hapsis/Mary Armstrong (Duval) d. Clara Reynolds/Janet Matthews 7-6, 7-6
No. 3 Doubles: Lynn O’Brien/Mary Paul (Pinellas) d. Nina Appleby/Tania Woodrum 6-1, 6-7, 1-0 (super-tiebreaker)
St. Pete Season Roster: Janet Matthews (captain), Mary Paul, Kay Caldwell, Clara Reynolds, Lynn O’Brien, Charlene Knetsch, Sandy Trail, Rhonda Smiechewicz

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55 & Over Men’s 3.0 Division

Final: Marion County (Fort King Tennis Center, Ocala) finished ahead of Alachua County (Jonesville Tennis Center, Gainesville) 3-0 to 0-3 in round robin play
Fort King Season Roster: Jerry McLauchlin (captain), Steve Gray, Jay Rubin, James Saxon, John Berg, Chip Hurst, Danny York, Robert Salat, William Ray, Howard Hitchcock

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55 & Over Women’s 3.0 Division

Final: Clay County (Eagle Harbor Country Club, Fleming Island) d. Hillsborough County (Brandon Swim and Aquatics) 2-1
Championship Match Results:
No. 1 Doubles: Sheila Edwards/Joy Boisselle (Hillsborough) d. Danielle Sourbeer/Elizabeth Britt 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 Doubles: Kerry Reardon/Alice Coats (Clay) d. Corey Karlen/Patricia Laterza 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 Doubles: Nancy White/Sherri Bair (Clay) d. Sharon Bortner/Juanita Vila 6-1, 6-1
Fleming Island Season Roster: Jenise Whitmire (captain), Alice Coats, Elizabeth Britt, Nancy White, Sherri Bair, Rosemary Howard, Tamera Lowe, Mary Nesbitt, Kerry Reardon, Danielle Sourbeer

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2016 USTA FLORIDA ADULT LEAGUE
SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE LEADERS

Here are the league sectional title leaders through two league sectionals events this year (through April 25, most recent winners in bold):

1. Pinellas County (2) — 65&Over W6.0, 55&Over W4.0
2T. Alachua County (1) — 65&Over M6.0
2T. Clay County (1) — 55&Over W3.0
2T. Collier County (1) — 65&Over W6.0
2T. Indian River County (1) — 65&Over W7.0
2T. Lee/Charlotte counties (1) — 65&Over M7.0
2T. Marion County (1) — 55&Over M3.0
2T. Nassau County (1) — 65&Over W8.0
2T. Polk County (1) — 65&Over M8.0

Next USTA Florida League Sectionals: 2016 Adult 55 & Over 3.5/4.5 Sectional Championships, April 29-May 1

For more information on USTA Florida Leagues go to www.ustaflorida.com/leagues.