The first Berkeley Tennis Club Foundation sponsored Pacific Coast Senior Tennis Championships, an ITF Seniors/Category II event that took place late last month, could not have transpired more smoothly. Detailed preparation by Steve Cornell and Lynne Rolley, and USTA Tournament Referee Max Gordon paid off, and the tournament was further elevated by a perfect, warm Sunday of Finals play. Our Club once again underwent a week-long transformation from a routine of predictable events and familiar faces to one of excitement and rush of 340 entrants (with many new faces arriving from all parts) coming and going throughout the Clubhouse. The BTC alone fielded 45 competitors, won three Championships (with one pending), and was involved in numerous other finals matches. Much appreciated volunteers, generous sponsorship, agreeable weather, and of course, many entertaining matches were all indispensable in making the successful tournament.
The Pacific Coast Seniors was marked, as usual, with several compelling matches involving BTC members. In the Men’s 65 doubles quarterfinals, Steve Booth and Bill Wagley needed 5 match points in a suspenseful match on Court 6 to finally overcome the tournament’s 3rd seeded team, 6-3; 4-6; 7-5. The Men’s 60s singles 3 set semifinals between eventual winner Cliff Feldon and Roger Kahn was a tense, tactical match between two stubborn competitors. Joel Drucker and Chip Gerken won an exciting 3rd set tie-breaker match on Court 4 before a packed crowd. The Men’s 60 Doubles Final saw Carlos Daganzo and Gil Rodriguez lose a challenging 3 set match after overcoming a 2-5 deficit in the second set. Also noteworthy was Doug Sykes seemingly inevitable victory in the Men’s 65s (his 20th straight championship) in this, his initial year entry into that age category. In women’s competition, it was an all BTC final in the 35s divisions with Leslie Rose defeating Mai Ichikawa 6-4, 6-4. In the Women’s 45 doubles Final, Kim Lackey and Mary Johnson lost an extremely competitive match that featured many long, hard fought points out on Court 1. The 2nd seeded team of Mai Ichikawa and Carolyn Wei defeated the 1st seeded team in the Women’s 35 Doubles to take the trophy… the third set being marked by a fifteen minute game won by the eventual champions.
There were three events within the tournament that were worthy of mention. On Wednesday evening, a Players Reception with a Junior exhibition on Court 1 took place. The BTC’s Mackie McDonald and Josh Raifman played with locals Zoe De Bruycker and Ellen Tsay in a spirited set of mixed doubles. That was followed by a hard hitting affair of guys doubles featuring the BTC’s Evan Rose, Michael Hui, Matthew Elefant and Nicholas Lautoa. Joel Drucker did the play by play. This event was amplified by superb complimentary hors d’oeuvres served by local restaurant Champa Garden out on the Court 1 deck.
On Thursday evening, the Club held a book signing with nationally recognized sports psychology consultant, author, and former #1 in the world in 35s, Jeff Greenwald. Jeff signed his latest book “The Best Tennis of Your Life” while giving interesting insights on his approach to the mental part of the game of tennis.
While exciting matches were underway on a beautiful Friday evening, the Tournament Barbecue was catered by Champa Garden. The food was a marvelous spread of a unique Laotian cuisine. Ken and Mary Stutz are to be thanked for their planning and fine execution of this exotic feast.
The BTC Foundation and the Pacific Coast Seniors Tournament Committee would like to thank the following BTC members who were so generous with their donations: Presenting Sponsor Brian McCroden (West Coast Novelty); Patron Sponsors Barry Baskin, Jeff Jue and Camille McCormack; Contributing Sponsors Steven and Loraine Cornell, Nancy and Hugh Ditzler, Geoff Hayes, and John and Kay Lyman; Supporting Sponsors Eugene Cantin, Mary Ellen Fine, José Katz, Royal Krieger, Bob Rutledge; At Large Sponsors John Andrews, Stephen Booth, Rob Healey, and Wilma Lee.
The much appreciated volunteers included Jan Brogan, Alissa Cohan, Betty Cookson, Kete Cornell, Eve Donlon, Joel Drucker, Warren Daane, Ed deSousa, Chip Gerken, Rich Green, Rob Healey, Mai Ichikawa, José Katz, Harold Knutson, Jim Landes, John and Kay Lyman, B.J. Miller, Jan Papps, Linda Peltz, Rob and Rosie Riesenfeld, Audrey Ross, Nancy Rupprecht, Andy Salonen, Harvey Sande, Roberta Sung, Dorothy Walker, Peggy Rourke, Kim Lackey, and Carolyn Wei. The tournament desk at one time consisted of three NorCal Hall of Famers… Betty Cookson, Jan Brogan and Lynne Rolley!
The PCS Committee also would like to acknowledge Brent Abel, Guy Needham, Karen Leong, Cliff Feldon, and Ken and Mary Stutz for their special contributions to the tournament, and Tournament Referee Max Gordon for his very competent and professional job in dealing patiently with over 60 requests for changes in match times and dates for busy, working competitors.
All the results of this tournament can be seen at the following site USTA Norcal site:
http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Results.aspx?T=59074
Photos of the winners at:
http://berkeleytennisclub.org/PacificCoast_08/PacificCoast_08.html
See Photos of the 2007 ITF Pacific Coast Seniors Championship here.
