Locals Shine at Colonial Super Senior; on to Cape Coral Racquet

Final Champions Crowned at Colonial

Congratulations go out to several of our local favorites who more than adequately represented our Southwest Florida tennis community in the Colonial edition of the West Coast Super Seniors Grand Prix. No.1 Seeds David Vaughan & Peter Redpath met with little resistance in the two matches they won on the way to their championship run. Dave and Peter lost three games in their first match and two games (6-1, 6-1) in the final against Steve Shortridge & Mark Bearby.

In 60 Doubles, Steve Shreiner, who plays just about everywhere in the area, and his partner Howard Ames were unseeded in the event, and eliminated the first, third and fourth seeds en route to winning the title. Steve and Howard downed local favorites Terry See and Larry Gagnon 6-3, 6-2 in the final.

We might not ordinarily claim them, but in this case I do believe we should. Unseeded Greg “Spike” Gonzales and Joe McAleer, both of Naples, won their second consecutive third-setter in the final of the 65 Doubles, beating, also unseeded, John Moore and Rick Schultz 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Spike and John dropped the first set in the semis and the finals, but persevered. They now have a championship to show for it.

Other area champions include: Fred Drilling of Estero in 70 Singles; Gordon Hammes of Naples in 75 Singles; Neil McDonald of Naples in 80 Singles, and with Ken Sinclair of Naples in 80 Doubles; and Robert Klein in 90 Singles (that’s right I said “90!”).

Super Seniors Move to Cape Coral Racquet

The Super Seniors tee it up again this week in the West Coast Super Seniors Grand Prix at Cape Coral Racquet Club (Designated). Your local favorites will surely be vying for championship honors in multiple divisions this week as well. 

Among those entered in singles draws include David Vaughan and Armor Persons in 55s; Steve Shortridge in 60s; Larry Albritton in 65s (Finalist this past weekend), Fred Drilling of Estero in 70s (trying to claim his 2^nd consecutive singles title); Gordon Hammes and Neil McDonald, both of Naples, also trying for back-to-back titles in the 75s and 80s respectively.  

A number of locals will compete for doubles honors as well. Dave Vaughan and Peter Redpath will go for (and claim in my estimation) two in a row in the 55s; Steve Shreiner (this past weekend’s Champion) and Terry See are likely to meet Larry Albritton and Frank Bova for the title in the 65s; and Neil McDonald of Naples will be going for another double, having won both Singles and Doubles Championships this past weekend.

You can take a look at the draws yourself by clicking this link. There are other local players who may capture your interest. Matches start Tuesday, January 17^th at 12pm.