Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Mika Todo of Japan won the 40 singles in Palm Beach Gardens on Saturday, beating top-seeded Lizl Kotz in the final in straight sets. However, Kotz won the gold in singles, combining with Tabatha Waddell to win the three team round robin.
Julie Cass put on a masterful display of attacking tennis to win the 50 singles, beating Jenny Klitch 64 62 in the final. The rallies were fantastic, but Cass controlled enough of them to finish victorious on a windy, warm day. Klitch and Andrea Rice though earned the doubles gold, beating Cass/Vesna McKenna to take the doubles gold. Alissa Finerman/Natalie Herreman won the doubles bronze and Rice beat McKenna for the singles bronze.
Diane Barker beat me 63 64 to win the 60 singles for the third straight year. It was a pretty good match, but she stayed on track with her aggressive play. Susan Wright beat Kathy Vick 61 61 to win the bronze. Ligia Bottinelli won her first gold ball, combining with Pat Purcell to win the 60 doubles over Susan Wright and me. They stayed aggressive throughout the match, winning 64 76. Kris McDonald/Kathy Zanon won the bronze in three sets, and were the last match finished for the second day in a row.
Toni Novack used her dropshot and guile well to beat Judy Dixon in a tight two-setter to win her FIRST singles gold ball. They have both been playing great tennis all year. Dixon didn’t go home though without some gold, winning every doubles match, with Vicky McEvoy convincingly. In the final they beat Donna Fales/Betty Wachob. Neither bronze ball match was played in the 70s; Brenda Winstead won the singles bronze by default and Molly Hahn/Sue Kimball took the doubles bronze (both playoffs involved Gwenda Ward, who was injured).
Inge Weber beat Dori DeVries to take the 80s gold; Dorothy Wasser beat Lola O’Sullivan for the singles bronze. Wasser/Weber won the 80s doubles round robin and Carol Wood/Burnett Herrick were finalists.
