We certainly couldn’t have asked for a better weekend of tennis to celebrate the 30th annual Turkey Tournament. The weather was perfect; we had a record number of players with 425; matches flowed smoothly at Sonterra, Blossom and Green Tree with lots of competitive play. Sunday was an absolutely fabulous day with all the finals at Green Tree. The club was packed and decks full with spectators enjoying the matches. There were so many three setters. Players enjoyed the very cool goodies this special year with the good looking turkey tee and the mug. EVERYONE loved them.
We ran twenty six events with levels 2.5 thru Open divisions. Several events were draws of sixteen. The 4.0 men’s divisions, both singles and doubles, were draws of 32 and riddled with many three set matches. The women’s doubles divisions were very tough with the women’s 3.5 & 4.0 doubles going three sets and the 3.0, 3.5 & 4.5 levels all winning 7-6,7-5 in the final. The women’s 4.0 & 4.5 singles were brutal . . . long tough points played beautifully by the players. Andrea Turk defeated Churchill’s Mia Meishar 6-3,5-7,6-4 and Catherine Babbitt edged out Aubrey Chancellor 6-4,3-6,7-5 in very tough matches.
The Men’s Open Singles saw a draw of sixteen with several college players from St. Mary’s University and OLLU as well as area stand outs. St. Mary’s Chad Nguyen moved through the draw with ease taking the title 6-4,6-0 in the finals playing against OLLU’S Caio Ravagnani. The Men’s Open Doubles was a draw of sixteen also with many college players in it. Spectators enjoyed watching their play at Blossom and at Green Tree in the finals. My sons, Scott & Jordan Mayer, wanted to play in the 30th and I loved it of course. They were unseeded and played stronger every match and I might add were sorer as well. They advanced to the finals and were so happy to play at Green Tree. They met Chad Nguyen & Sebastian Azcui from St. Mary’s University in the final and it was very tough tennis. Scott & Jordan prevailed 6-2,6-3. Very special for our family.
The mixed doubles events are always full draws and competitive. The mixed 6.0 & 7.0 went three sets with Josefina Linares & Adrian Romo defeating Jim & Emily Knowles in a squeaker 6-7,6-3,6-2 and in the mixed 7.0 the 1 & 2 seeds matched up with the mother/son team of Kelly & Tyler Oberhauser defeating Sofia Ruiz & Gary Tovar 3-6,7-6,6-2.
Lastly, there are many people that I want to thank. Without their help and support the tournament wouldn’t be the success that it is year in and year out. First of all . . . thank you to all of you who sign up year after and have supported this tournament throughout the years. I can hardly believe it’s been 30 years and so I thank you . . . my family thanks you for embracing the tournament and making it the unique and enjoyable tournament that is played for and is a celebration of the “love of the game”.
Thank you to my son, Matthew Mayer, who is a graphic design professional and designed the t-shirt and the mug plus the turkey tourney banners. Thank you to Patrick Johnson, tennis director at Blossom Tennis Center, who is so easy and wonderful to work with. He is a joy to work with. Kat Roohan from Blossom did an absolutely outstanding job running Blossom this weekend as did my long time friend, Debbie Lowry, at Sonterra. My Green Tree staff also out did themselves. Our terrific pros, Andrea Villareal and Dave Briddle handled the tournament desk the entire weekend with help from our pro-shop staff Preston Phan and Ethan Malley. Thank you to Sheri Anderson and Bayley Sones who handled all the fruit and pastry items for Saturday & Sunday that I know all of you enjoyed.
All of us at Green Tree wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving and a blessed Christmas season.
Courtney
Courtney P. Mayer, USPTA
Head/Penn Advisory Staff
Tennis Director
Green Tree Tennis Club
Divisions
Singles
Doubles