2016 Hickey Cup – Handicaps 60+
Boston Tennis and Racquet Club
January 15-17, 2016
Main Draw – Al Santosuosso def. Art Horowitz, 6-4 6-0
Back Draw – Connor Currier def. Bob Rulli, 4-6 6-3 6-2
Over MLK weekend the Boston Tennis and Racquet Club hosted the 2016 Hickey Cup – a level championship for players with a handicap 60 and above. There was representation from Newport, Philadelphia, DC, and Boston.
For many of the competitors it was either their first USCTA event or first travel event. This is yet another sign of the steady increase in tournament participation around the country.
Day one treated us to some extremely tight matches; Connor Currier was narrowly edged out by Colyar Pridgen, both Boston rookies, in a match that saw big swings back and forth in momentum. In the end it was Colyar’s day as he took the match 1-6 6-2 6-5; Jeremy Thompson, inspired by Colyar’s resolve, managed to pull off a similar turn around after falling a set behind to Bob Rulli, eventually taking the match 5-6 6-3 6-4.
These narrow losses sent Bob and Connor into the Back Draw, full of vigor. After getting through their round robin groups they would square off in the finals. As could have been predicted, the match went three sets, with Connor squeaking it out 4-6 6-3 6-2.
In the Main Draw, Art Horowitz and Al Santosuosso worked their way through the draw to face each other in the Finals. Both were on very good form: Art had a tight win over David Caldwell in the semis; Al squeaked by Luis Santiago. The first set saw the players trading games, but Al was able to win the big points and took the set 6-4. In the second, Al really started to find his range. Art battled until the very end, pulling several games to deuce, but it wasn’t to be. Al wrapped up the match, 6-4 6-0.
Thanks to all of the players who traveled from near and far to compete, the T&R for hosting the event, and the spectators for coming out to cheer on the players.
2016 Noll Cup – Handicaps 30-39
Racquet Club of Chicago
January 29-31, 2016
Main Draw – Max Drake def. Peter Dunne 6-2,6-1
Back Draw – Phillip Stockton def. Russell Corey 8-3
The 2016 Noll Cup in Chicago was a particularly poignant event since Eddie Noll, after whom the cup was named, had recently passed away. Everyone involved with the tournament was therefore extremely grateful that Mike Noll and his wife Carolyn travelled from Philadelphia to support the event.
The matches began on Friday with many Chicago players winning through to the quarter finals. The in-form Max Drake overcame Rob Silvay 6-1 6-2 and Rowan Carroll outlasted Morgan Purvis (ATC) 6-4 in the final set before Parker Brickley (R&T) defeated Russell Corey (ATC)with relative ease.
The first shock result of the tournament came on Saturday morning with the evergreen Dick Tanfield (RCOP) having too much experience for number 1 seed Mike Keiser (RCC), therefore blowing the field wide open. Second seed Jack Brown won his quarter final match with Brickley to set up a semifinal with Peter Dunne after the latter scraped his way past Carroll 6-4 in the 3rd set.
Before the semifinals all of the players and guests enjoyed a tremendous luncheon to celebrate the life and contribution to Court Tennis of Eddie Noll – with Mike Noll and one of his former pupils John Cashman giving excellent speeches. The semifinals then produced some excellent tennis with Drake edging his way through to the final with a 1-6 6-3 6-3 victory over Tanfield and Dunne beating Brown 6-4 3-6 6-1 in a similarly hard fought battle. A packed Chicago dedans was in good voice throughout the afternoon and were delighted to see two home court players reach the final.
In the final, Drake managed to overcome the tiring Dunne 6-2 6-1, a score line which was not reflective of the excellent retrieving of both players. Thanks must be given to Steve Virgona for organizing the event and also to John Cashman and Chicago fellow Robert Shenkman for helping with the marking.
2016 Burke Cup – Handicaps 40-49
Princes Court
January 29-31, 2016
Main Draw – Adrian Camacho def. Parker Stoker 6-4,6-5
Back Draw – Helen Grassi (Winner – Round Robin)
The 2016 Burke cup was a tournament with plenty of upsets, drama and great tennis.
With a healthy mixture of promising fresh talent and experienced players this tournament produced some fantastic matches and in the end the final was contested by two players who possessed a healthy mixture of youth and experience, Parker Stoker and Adrian Camacho.
Parker got off to a great start by overcoming Sewall Hodges in the first round, Parker then went on to defeat Manny Tancer in the quarter finals thanks to some cunning service to combat the wily left hander. Manny had beaten Pete Dickinson (of Newport) in the first round. This set up a semi final with Spencer Feldman which after a particularly tight first set (6-5) Parker was able to close out by avoiding his opponents formidable volley.
Adrian’s tournament began in the second round where he played Chris Payton, Chris had defeated Patrick Harris in the previous round thanks to his superior experience and some great racket work, despite losing the first set 6-0, Adrian was able to find his feet and take the match 6-5 in the 3rd set. In the semi finals Adrian faced Fred Gumbinner and was once again slow off the mark, losing the first set 6-2, once again Adrian’s determination and superior fitness came into play as he took the next 2 sets to propel himself into the final.
The final was a close affair with Parker returning serve tightly but unable to win enough chases to consistently find himself at the service end, as such he lost the first set 6-4. In the second set there were some fantastic rallies as both players found their best tennis. In the end, the match could not have been much closer as Adrian won the second and final set of the tournament 6-5.
Congratulations go out to all participants but special mention must go out to Adrian Camacho and Parker Stoker for a fantastic display of tennis in the final, and Helen Grassi for winning the Plate competition.
2016 Wharton Cup – Handicaps 50-59
Boston Tennis and Racquet Club
January 29 -31, 2016
Main Draw – Steuart Botchford def. Michael Hollo 5-6,6-3,6-3
Back Draw – Bertie Cayzer def. Michael Hill 8-6
Congratulations to T&R’s very own Steuart Botchford, who defeated Michael Holl (Chicago) in the finals of the 2016 Wharton Cup.
Bertie Cayzer narrowly pipped Michael Hill in the back draw final, 8-6.
Action packed weekend with over 30 hours of court tennis matches. Thanks to all of the players who participated from near and far. Matt Mitchell and Steuart Botchford for chairing the events and all of the avid supporters who came out to cheer on the players.
