April 4, 2019
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
The 49th National Women’s Clay Court Championships took place at the Houston Racquet Club last week. This is the best women’s senior tournament and this year, was not only a USTA National (gold ball) Championship, but a Grade A ITF Championship which added to the character and prestige of the tournament.
Tournament directors Sue Bramlette and Cathy Lassiter along with Harriet the referee and Judy Job did their usual stellar job running the event.
Kaysie Smashey won the 35 singles and doubles (with Julie Thu), avenging her loss earlier in March to Heather Nobler when she beat her in three sets in the final.
Amanda Parson Siegel took out Patricia Zerdan in the semis in a grueling 75 76 encounter before she beat #2 seed Julie Cass 62 60 to win the 45s title. Zerdan took out top-seeded Nancy Hilliard in the quarters. Jenny Klitch edged Zerdan for bronze.
Cass and Tracie Currie, top seeded, won the 45 doubles with a straight set win over Tammy Morris/Jill Toney, the 2nd seeds.
Fran Chandler won the 55 singles and did it the hard way, beating #2 seed Shelly Works in three sets before taking out top seed and defending champion Vicki Buholz in the final in straights. Works took the bronze. Buholz/Gayle Prejean won the doubles with an emphatic win over top seeded and defending champions Mary Dailey/Erika Smith.
Tina Karwasky won the 65 singles for the third straight year, taking out Wendy McColskey, also for the third straight year in Houston. Lil Peltz-Petow took bronze. The 65 doubles winners were more of a surprise, with long time senior players, Kandy Chain and Andrea Barnes taking the gold. They beat the top seeds, Karwasky/Jan Kirkland Cochran in three sets in the semis before beating unseeded Becky Timmis/Sue Sprague in straight sets for the gold. Karwasky/Kirkland/Cochran took the bronze.
Heide Orth from Germany beat South Africa’s Petro Kruger to win the 75 doubles, then teamed with Kruger to beat Cathie Anderson/Carolann Castell in the doubles final. Anderson took bronze in singles; Ann Hunt/Sheila Weinstock won the doubles bronze.
Lucille Kyvallos’ hard work paid off when she won the 85 singles; Mary John Lynch was the finalist. Lynch/Rose Austin won the doubles in a round robin; Margaret Canby/Angie Ray took silver.
Jane Lutz won the 90 singles over the ever ebullient Rita Price and doubles with Price.
