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Local tennis: Swope, Rager winners at USPTA National Clay Courts

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Kudos are due some local tennis pros who made a good showing in the USPTA National Clay Courts in West Palm Beach this past weekend.

Frank Swope, director of tennis at Mediterra, won the Men’s 50 Singles title and Denny Rager, director of tennis at Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort, won the Men’s 35 Singles crown.

Rager also teamed up with Bay Colony’s Doug Small to finish third in the men’s open doubles.

Other local pros competing were Jared Kalpin and Rob Vinal from Bonita Bay, Dave Dooley of Shadow Wood, Terry See, Steve Shortridge and Kristie Bradley.

* * *

The Academia Sanchez-Casal at the Naples Tennis Club and Resort will host a 2008 USTA National Boys and Girls 18s tournament starting this Saturday and running through May 21. Some of the nation’s top-ranked juniors will compete in singles and doubles over the five-day period.

Matches are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. daily and run through the day.

The public is welcome free of charge. For more, phone 384-5640.

* * *

School days are dwindling and area tennis facilities are revealing their summer junior camp/activity plans.

The Collier County Parks & Recreation Department will offer a variety of summer youth tennis camps from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays throughout the month of June. The first camp will be at the Vineyards Community Park the week of June 2, to be followed by week-long sessions at the Golden Gate Community Park, Veterans Park and a gain at Vineyards.

Experienced tennis instructors under the direction of Spike Gonzales will provide instruction. For registration or additional camp information, call 252-4000.

A rundown of other junior summer activities submitted to date follows:

* The Academia Sanchez-Casal at the Naples Tennis Club and Resort – two special summer programs being offered; Phone the Academy at 384-5640.

* Mike DePalmer Tennis Academy – “junior tournament players” summer camp for ages 10-18 boys and girls at Imperial Racquet Club; phone 560-7004 or e-mail mdepalmer@aol.com.

* The Preeg-Doherty Junior Tennis Academy – at The Dunes; begins June 3; all levels; for full details, phone 593-9736.

* The YMCA Tennis Camp – starting June 2 and running through Aug. 18; For member and non-member fees, contact the Y’s tennis pro shop at 597-8431.

* Vasari Country Club junior tennis and golf camp -- June 16-20; July 14-18; Aug. 4-8; Ages 5-17; members and guests; phone 594-3959.

* Heritage Bay Country Club children’s golf and tennis camp – Starts June 2; nine weekly sessions for ages 8-14; call 304-5911.

* The Players Club & Spa at Lely Resort – begins June 2; call 298-5781.

* Olde Cypress Golf & Contry Club – Summer sports camp ages 5-and-up; tennis golf, etc.; phone 370-1976.

* Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club – Summer sports camp; ages 5-and-up; tennis, golf, etc; phone 259-1132.

* * *

The City of Marco Island Parks & Recreation will conduct the first Junior Rookie Tournament come June 7-8. The tournament is designed for junior players entering into competitive play and have not acquired any ranking points. Divisions will be boys and girls 10-under, 12-under and 14-under singles, as well as a first-round consolation bracket for each division.

T-shirts, water, Gatorade and refreshments will be provided for all participants. Trophies will be awarded to winners and finalists in each division. The fee is $28 per entrant.

To enter, or to get more information, phone the City of Marco Island Racquet Center at 394-5454 or check online at http://tennislink.usta.com. The tournament I.D. number is 153702508.

* * *

One out of every six facilities in the Tennis Resorts Online annual rankings has its tennis program directed by professionals from Peter Burwash International (PBI). The final rankings had 13 PBI-staffed properties in the top 75 tennis resorts -- an increase from last year’s number of 11.

Among facilities recognized was the Naples Grande Resort & Club in the prestigious "Gold" category. In this category, PBI had five of its facilities in the top 18 out of a total of 25. Naples Grande moved into the “Gold” category this year form last year’s ranking in the “Silver” category.

* * *

Beginning the first week of June, the Longshore Lake Tennis Center each Tuesday will host a Women’s Interclub Round-Robin throughout the summer. Play will begin at 9 a.m.

The 3.0 Women’s Interclub will begin on Tuesday, June 3, alternating every other week. The 3.5 Women’s Interclub will begin on Tuesday, June 10, alternating every other week.

Women should call one week in advance at 566-2783 to sign up for these fun interclub round-robins. The cost each week is $3 per player.

The Longshore Lake Tennis Center is located just off Immokalee Road at Valewood Drive.

* * *

Brothers Gianni and Jacen Hinkson both won events in this past weekend’s USPTA/JusTennis Junior Tennis Series. Gianni won the Boys 14s with an 8-6 semifinal victory over Trevor Conte and an 8-1 finals win over James Rasmussen. Jacen won the Boys 12s with 8-0 and 8-1 semifinal and finals wins respectively over Barrett Ott and Isaac Garner.

Lauren Barr topped the Girls 14s with an 8-5 semifinal win over Edmarie Benavides and an 8-2 finals victory over Zoe Knapke. Newcomer Madison Neill won the Girls 12s, defeating Katie Thorpe 8-1 in the semifinals and Adrienne Knapke 8-5 in the finals. Julia VanFleet won the Girls 10s with 8-5 wins over Olivia Ott and Nicki Iandimarino in the semis and finals respectively.

The Hinkson boys now lead the series standings with 23 points for Gianni and 14 points for Jacen. Laura Morgan is third with 13 points, followed by Majana Vukajlovic with 12 and Madison Neill with nine.

The next USPTA/JusTennis Junior Tennis Series event is a singles tournament on May 24 at the East Naples Community Park. The registration deadline is Thursday, May 22.

The series consists of eight tournaments designed to offer “user-friendly” competition for children looking to develop competitive skills and for parents to learn registration procedures and spectator protocol. Matches are supervised by USPTA pros, with special emphasis placed on sportsmanship and developing friendships.

To find out more, contact Collier County Parks tennis pro Spike Gonzales at 248-0894.

* * *

Women tennis players are needed for a 70-plus team in next winter’s Col-Lee Tennis League. Any rating is eligible. Contact Ellie DiPietro locally at 514-0566 or at 410-239-4750.

* * *

The City of Fort Myers will put on the Second Annual Junior Challenge Tennis Tournament at the Fort Myers Racquet Club. Play will run May 31-June 1. Age divisions range from 10-under to 16-under. The entry fee is $25 and includes a club water bottle and awards for champions, finalists and consolation winners.

Burgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches will be sold during tournament. The entry deadline is Wednesday, May 28.

The Fort Myers Racquet Club is located at 1700 Matthew Drive. For more information, call 239-278-7277.

* * *

The Heritage Bay Country Club is offering a weekly "Ladies Boot Camp" for players 3.0 through 4.0 running through Aug. 13.

This nine-hour instructional competitive doubles program will meet from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Wednesday. There will also be a six-hour evening camp for working women. It will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 Tuesday through Thursday.

Don Turner and Tony Martin will direct the camps. For more information and registration, phone 304-5911 or 593-7652.

* * *

A rundown of activities and events follows:

-- Daily tennis clinics/lessons – at Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort; all levels; call 877-8889.

-- Academia Sanchez-Casal After School Program -- Kids Zone; Monday-Thursday 3:30-4:30; Advanced Group 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; Phone 384-5641 or 641-0010

-- Junior instruction at World Tennis Club -- Instruction by former pro Povel Slozil (former coach of Steffi Graf); call 263-7411.

-- Tom Avery's Tennis Outlet - Private and group lessons, cardio tennis for teams, earlybirds and all levels. For schedule, fees and more information call Tom Avery at 592-5920.

-- Quail Creek Country Club round-robins -- 3.5 and 3.0 women every Thursday 9 to 11 a.m.; 3.5 and 3.0 men every Wednesday and Friday 9 to 11 a.m.; Cost: $3; Phone 597-9725.

— Vanderbilt Country Club - Individual, team instruction and Cardio Tennis; given by Director of Tennis Christina Oldock; Cardio Tennis for singles, couples, teams, young professionals, earlybirds, beginners, intermediates, and advanced; To sign up for clinic times and fees, phone 348-1725.

— 3.0 and 3.5 women’s round-robins - at Quail Creek Country Club; Every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m.; Cost: $3 per player; Sign up in advance by phoning 597-9725.

— The Plantation Club at The Dunes - Preeg-Doherty Junior Tennis Academy: Monday through Friday, 4 to 6 p.m.; Ladies Day: Tuesdays, 9 to 11 a.m.; Men’s Day: Thursdays, 9 to 11 a.m.; Ladies 3.0 Clinic: Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.; Ladies 3.5 Clinic: Fridays, 9 a.m.; Phone 593-9680.

— Pelican Bay Community Park events - Most levels of round-robins for men and women available each week; Adult and junior clinics held daily; For specific days-times, phone 598-3025.

— Quail Creek Junior Tennis -Tuesdays and Thursdays: Tiny Tots from 3:30-4 at $6; Beginners from 4 to 4:45 at $9; Intermediate and Advanced from 4:30 to 5:30 at $12; Clinic and Ralleyball to beincluded; All directed by Doug Welsh; Phone 597-9725.

— Quail West Tennis programs - Tuesdays,Thursdays and Saturdays; Events include 3.0-3.5 ladies round- robin from 9 to 11 and 3.5-4.0 men’sround robin from 9 to 11; 3.5-4.0 ladies doubles clinics on Wednesdays from 9 to 11; Also: Wednesday clinics for men and women from 9 to 10:30 a.m.; Also: "3 students and the Pro" on Mondays; Phone 592-1139.

— Weekly mixed doubles round-robin - Fridays at Pelican Bay Community Park; Phone 598-3025.

— Men’s, women’s and mixed round-robins - Each day of the week at Pelican Bay Community Park; Phone 598-3025.

— Adult clinics - for all levels at Pelican Bay Community Park; Phone 598-3025.

— Men’s round-robin match play - at Imperial Racquet Club; for days and times, phone Dick Morrissey at 566-3442.

— Colliertennis.com - the official Web site of the Community Tennis Association of Collier County.

— Collier Tennis Connection - Phone Connie Kormanyos at 394-8061 or 394-3144, Ext. 224.

— Tennis instruction, lessons - For schedule at Miromar Beach Club, phone pro Rick Kobleur at 992-0024.

— Marco Island Racquet Center - Round- robins, league play, USTA competitive teams, Stroke of the Week clinics, beginners lessons, junior programs and racquetball challenges; For the complete schedule, phone 394-5454.

— Men’s and women’s round-robins - at Imperial Tennis Club; men on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. for 3.0-3.5 players and at 10:30 a.m. for 4.0 -4.5 players; women on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. for 3.0 players; Phone 566-3442.

— Ladies Day Round Robin, Men’s Day Round Robin, Saturday Mixed Round Robin - at Cambier Park Tennis Center, Phone 213-3060; Tuesdays at 11a.m. women of all levels welcome to participate; Thursdays at 11 a.m. men of all levels welcome to participate; Saturday mornings are "Mixed Troubles" round robin at 9:30.

— Bridgewater Bay Tennis Club - Weekly activities include: Tuesdays beginner/intermediate clinic 5 p.m., Thursday mixed round robin 6 p.m.; Saturdays intermediate clinic 9:30 a.m.; Phone 450-1000.

— Saturday Mixed Doubles Round Robin - at Cambier Park Tennis Center at 10:45 a.m.; Phone 213-3060.

— Tony Kamen Youth Tennis Clinics - For beginners/intermediate/high school players; Mondays and Wednesdays 4-5:30 p.m. at Naples High School courts. $15 per session or $96 per month; Phone 272-9223; Also, Beginner to Intermediate players ages 6-12 on Tuesdays 3:30-5 p.m. at Naples High courts; contact Fleischmann Park at 213-3013.

— Pelican Bay Community Park tennis facility - 764 Vanderbilt Beach Road; 8 lighted Har-Tru courts; park also provides users with racquetball courts, volleyball courts, basketball and bocce courts, softball and soccer field and an enclosed playground for children; 1-mile paved walking/jogging path and a pavilion d.looking a lake; For information on tennis programs or any information about the park, phone 598-3025.

— Wednesday night mixed doubles round-robins - at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club; 5:30 to 7 p.m.; Cost: $15 (includes balls, court time and light refreshments).

— The Preeg-Doherty Tennis Academy - at The Dunes and the Imperial Racquet Club; for tournament players, intermediates and beginners; phone John Preeg or Lisa Preeg at The Dunes, 593-9736.

Those wishing to have events or activities included in the weekly Thursday local tennis roundup should e-mail the information to Tom Rife at heart22@comcast.net by 6 p.m. on Monday.

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