METRO BIRMINGHAM HAS TWO CHAMPIONS
Five teams from Georgia reached the finals of the 2016 USTA League Adult 55 & Over Southern Sectional Championships. which was played in Asheville, N.C., Sept. 16-18.
An Atlanta team won the Men’s 4.0 crown while Georgia teams from Athens, Marietta, Snellville and Tyrone fell in the final three-match contest. Two teams from metro Birmingham, Ala., were victors in the tournament of teams from nine Southern states.
Approximately 720 players on 72 teams competed in the tournament. The 55s teams battled for the right to represent USTA Southern in the USTA League Adult 55 & Over National Championships in Surprise, Arizona. The 3.0 and 4.0 teams will play Oct. 21-23 and the 3.5 and 9.0 combined teams will play Oct. 28-30.
The Asheville Racquet Club Downtown served as the tournament headquarters. Matches were also played at the club’s South facility, Aston Park Tennis Center, Henderson Racquet Club, TC Roberson High School and Erwin High School.
Champions and finalists were:
|
Level
|
Champion
Hometown - Captain/s
|
Finalist
Hometown - Captain
|
Score
in final
|
|
Men’s 3.0
|
Pelham, Ala.
Mike English
|
Wilmington, N.C.
Michael Smith
|
3-0
|
|
Men’s 3.5
|
Baton Rouge, La.
Randy Braud
|
Jackson, Miss. (B)
James Brown
|
2-1
|
|
Men’s 4.0
|
Atlanta (B)
Terry McCain
|
Athens, Ga. (A)
Tal Hutto/Nick Nickerson
|
2-1
|
|
Men’s 9.0 combined
|
Louisville, Ky.
Bryon Miller
|
Marietta, Ga.
Danny Carlson
|
2-1
|
|
Women’s 3.0
|
Nashville, Tenn.
Susan Castelli/Louise Davis
|
Kill Devil Hills, N.C.
Mary Bonsall/Elizabeth Morey
|
2-1
|
|
Women’s 3.5
|
Little Rock, Ark.
Debbie Worthington
|
Snellville, Ga.
Debra Shannon
|
2-1
|
|
Women’s 4.0
|
Birmingham, Ala.
Linda Metrock/Mindy Long
|
Rock Hill, S.C.
Madlen Barnett
|
3-0
|
|
Women’s 9.0 combined
|
Charlotte, N.C.
Debbie Carmazzi
|
Tyrone, Ga.
Jan Kirkland-Cochran
|
3-0
|
This year’s event drew the top teams from throughout the section’s nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Many of the teams – which represent various clubs, parks, recreational departments and organizations – have finished at the top of their local leagues or are noted as top teams in their respective states.
The 2016 tournament is presented by USTA Southern in cooperation with strong local volunteer support. Penn Racquet Sports is in its 27th year as official ball of USTA League Tennis.