2009 Atlantic Coast 45's
By Wade Frame
New England hosted the 2009
Atlantic Coast 45’s at the Hop Meadow Country Club in Simsbury, Connecticut on
May 16th, 2009. This round robin competition for players over 45
from the New England, Middle States, Mid-Atlantic, and Eastern sections was
shortened to a 1-day event as the Middles States failed to put together a team.
Each section fields’ four singles and three doubles teams against the other
sections. Players Alex Seaver, Bill Previdi, Chris Holmes, David MacBurnie,
Harlan Stone, Jon Bates, Ned Eames, Phil Kadesch, Rob Barr, Tim Riley, and
captain Wade Frame made for a strong home team. Unfortunately, two of our New
England’s best, Bud Schultz and Peter Prinos, were not able to play this year.
In the first match of the
day New England played Mid-Atlantic, last years winners, and edged them out
with a 4-3 win. Mid-Atlantic rebounded
in the second match of the day to beat the Eastern team with a 5-2 win. After
losing to Mid-Atlantic, the Eastern captain re-shuffled it’s lineup from top
to bottom for the final match of the day against New England. Our team finished
strong with a 6-1 win, and New England won the Atlantic Coast 45’s Cup for the
third time in five years.
We seem to be an odd year
phenomenon having won in 2005, 2007, and now in 2009. This year’s one day
competition didn't have quite the buzz or tension like 2005 with Bud Schultz's
one legged win over Bob Bull or the 2007 comeback win for Jim Ratliff and Steve
Radigan from being down 2 breaks in the third set, but it felt great to take
down Eastern's tilted lineup 6-1! No rally caps on the porch required for
this one..
David MacBurnie, Ned Eames,
and Phil Kadesch (note the spelling) earn this year’s MVP awards. David had
great straight set wins at the very tough 2 slot over Lynn Bybee from
Mid-Atlantic and David Roth from the East. David’s keen focus and powers of
concentration were tested by the afternoon wedding celebrations as he prevailed
over Roth. Ned and Phil played some great doubles to clinch the big win over
Mid Atlantic with a 6-4, 6-4 win to bring home the 4th match. In their
afternoon into evening match they held on to win 7-5 in the 3rd set over
Eastern's Paul Moss and Sadik "fell from grace at 1st singles"
Sendich to give New England it's six and final match.
Rookie of the year goes to
Rob Barr at 1st singles, who found his legs and game in his second
match against Eastern's Ed Perpetua, coming back from a bagel down in the first
set to win the final two sets 7-5, 6-4 and bring the team another point. I wish
someone could teach me to hit a slice backhand like Rob's - it is a classic
stroke.
Sorry Jon and Harlan, no
special awards - we expect you to win each and every match you play. In fact
we're all kind of shocked you dropped 4 games in the first set! Harlan always
says "Jon Bates and anyone makes a great doubles team" and Bates
claims that "Harlan Stone and anyone makes a great team", so when
you're paired up I just put your matches in the win column. Nice straight
set wins at first doubles in both matches!
Tim Riley played two tough
matches, but was unable to capture a win in singles action. Tim - we expect you
to drop a couple of pounds and get in better shape to bring us a couple of
points at next year’s competition.
Alex Seaver and Bill Previdi
had a tough loss in the Hop Meadow woods as the Mid-Atlantic team grunted and
groaned it's way to third set win. Alex then came back with a nice straight set
win in singles over Eastern’s Russ Heier.
Thanks to Chris Holmes for
carrying captain Wade Frame to a nice straight set win for the fourth and
clinching win over the Eastern section. We came out of this match with a new shout
when the feet are a bit slow; to quote Eastern’s Martin Goldberg “Even a dead
cow could get that shot!”
Hats off and thanks to the
Hop Meadow Country Club for providing a great venue for this year’s
competition. Jim Whiting the tennis
pro, Beth Georger the chief caterer and provider of great food, and the tennis
committee at Hop Meadow just did an outstanding job for New England. As always
many thanks to USTA New England and the New England Senior Tennis Foundation
for their continued support of the Atlantic Coast 45’s.
In 2010 the New England team hits the road to the Middle States – and maybe an even year win?
The New England 45 Atlantic Coast Cup Team
L-R Captain Wade Frame, Ron Barr, Bill Previdi, Chris Holmes, Tim Riley, David MacBurnie, Phil Kadesch, Jon Bates, Harlan Stone, Alex Seaver and Ned Eames