Julie Cass, Yukie Koizumi of Japan and Anne Guerrant won the singles titles at Merion today. Cass/Michelle King, Tracey Thompson/Robin Ogburn and Heide Orth/Molly Hahn won the doubles titles.

 

Cass beat the top seed, Hy Yorke in 3 sets, dropping the first set 64 before running off 12 of the next 14 games to win 46 60 62. Cass then combined with Michelle King to win another gold ball, in another 3-set match. Cass/King beat Mary Dailey/Julie Kaczmarek 67 62 61. For Dailey it was a nice result in her first tournament following shoulder surgery (which took place only in April).

 

The bronze balls in the 35’s went to King (who edged Kaczmarek in …yes, 3 sets) in singles and to Hollman/York in doubles. They beat Keener/Shipley in 2 sets for a change. Lawrence/Spears beat Henderson/Snook in 2 sets to place 5th.

 

Hollman also took 5th in singles, beating Keener in the consolation final.

 

Koizumi won the 45’s at Merion for the 3rd straight year. This was one of her most dominating performances. She beat Susan Wright who was playing her first senior grass final 62 61, and that was her closest score of the week. Gerda Preissing beat Tina Karwasky in 2 close sets to take the bronze, reversing her outcome of a year earlier.

 

Robin Ogburn, playing a senior national event outside of California (and off of hard courts) for the first time, combined with Tracey Thompson to win the doubles in a thriller. They beat Preissing/Wright, the defending champions, 76 in the third set, 75 in the tiebreaker…what a finish to the tournament! Robin also won the consolation singles in the 45’s.

 

The bronze ball in the 45 doubles went to Karwasky/Mary Ginnard, who edged Mary Johnson/Frances O’Sullivan in 3 sets. Koizumi/Neuthaler won the back draw over Fahrenholz/Lackey in 3 sets.

 

In the 55’s, Anne Guerrant was nearly as dominant all week as was Koizumi and never lost more than 3 games in any match. She finally stopped the 2 week run of Mary Wilson in the final. Marlie Buehler took 5th place in a 3-set win over Molly Hahn, decided by a third set tiebreaker, 8 points to 6.

 

In the 55 doubles, Hahn and Orth successfully defended their title, edging Mueller/Williams-Horne in 3 sets. Carter/Buehler won the bronze, also in 3 sets, over Bennett/Louie. Cindy Babb/Susie Peiffer took 5th in doubles.