I just finished playing in the Nike Senior tournament in Portland, Oregon. Dana Barnes ran the tournament. She told me the number of entrants had increased from about 90 2 years ago to over 130 this year.
The weather was hot for Oregon, 90ish for a high and the Oregonians were turning pink. But a big pool on site was available to help the players cool off along with lots of cold water and sodas. There was breakfast and lunch available daily for the players.
For a donation of $20, players could sign up to go visit the Nike Employee store, where everything was 50% off, plus receive a t-shirt and a Nike backpack plus a free ice cream coupon…what a deal! Lots of players took advantage, and the 85 Nike bags and passes available sold out quickly.
The courts were newly resurfaced the new popular color of deep bluish purple this year. They were medium fast, and indoor Pro Penn Balls were used.
One of the best matches of the tournament was in the women’s 40’s. Kathy Vick, winner in the 45’s, elected to play 2 singles events. She met Ann Whitney in the semis, and the two played 3 long sets before Ann Whitney’s aggressive all court play prevailed. Whitney went on to win the 40’s over Anna Hayden Zimmerman of Indianapolis, while Vick of Texas took out Ann Marie Brigandi to place third.
Other singles winners included Jami Patterson of Indiana, women’s 35’s; Carolyn Nichols, CA, 50’s; Carmen Almodovar of Washington state, 55’s; Bebe Burns of Seattle, 60’s, Nena Pearson of Portland, 65’s; Anneke Balics of California, 70’s; and Cathie Hall of California who doubled down and won the 75’s and the 80’s!
Almodovar and Balics were both unseeded winners.
Doubles was tough as well.
Winners included Jami Patterson/Anna Zimmerman, 35’s; Carol Sandoz/Ruth Turner, 40’s; Chris Ramsower-Pearlstein/Nichols, 45 doubles; Carolann Castell/Ellen Kariya (who took out Samway/Watson, an unseeded team that beat the 2nd and 3rd seeds en route to the finall) 55’s; Carol Bottomly/Gayle Halverson, unseeded, 60’s (beating the top seeds 61 61 in the final), Ellen Macpherson/Willeminia Niosi, 65’s; Balics/Joyce Jones, 70’s (another unseeded winner); and Boots Colwell/Jones (who stopped Hall’s winning streak at this event at 2).
I also missed the 109 degree weather in California that occurred during this pleasant event. It’s a nice tournament, see you all next year.
Click here to see all results: http://tournaments.usta.com/tournaments/Draws/TournamentDraws.aspx?T=32552
Carolyn