This past Saturday, 8 pros and 8 club members intermingled in a very enjoyable and action-filled tennis pro-am. Playing in a unique round robin format, (designed by our pros who happen to have PHDs in computer programming), each amatuer played with a different pro, against a different amateur and pro, making for interesting and varied matchups. Names were pulled out of a hat, so who you played with and against was “luck of the draw”. The round robin consisted of 3 one-set rounds. Then, using a plus/minus point differential scoring system, a playoff round ensued, pitting the 1st place amateur and pro against the 2nd place amateur and pro, 3rd place, against 4th, 5th against 6th, and 7th against 8th.
For those who ignored the complicated scoring system and just tried to strike the tennis ball, a great time was had. Amateurs came up with some surprisingly good shots, and the pros, well what can I say, that’s why we call them pros. 1st place went to Kiril Popov (pro) and our beloved sponsor Parker Gennett, who defeated Rodrigo Valle (pro) and Frank Goroleski. The winning pro received $80, and the runner up $50 for their efforts. Yours truly did manage to finish 3rd place, thus securing an invite for next year.
A special thanks to our sponsors, Dr. Parker Gennett of Foot Care Centers, and Dr. Dan Sambursky of Opthalmic Associates , not only their generous sponorship, but their positive support and participation. There was some debate whether a sponsor should be entitled to win his own event, but when I declared Dan Sambursky the front runner to win next year’s event, all protest died down.
Participants:
Pros: Representing Bolivia, Bulgaria, Israel, Florida & Pa
Kiril Popov – Birchwood Racquet Club
Dan Hanegby – Binghamton U Mens Tennis
Steve Spencer – Binghamton U Mens Tennis
Rodrigo Valle – Binghamton U Mens Tennis
Jordy Asher – Cadence
Billy Mendler – Binghamton Tennis Center
Collin Crawfor – Binghamton Tennis Center
Michael Starke – Binghamton Tennis Center
Amateurs: Representing the greater Binghamton Area
Parker Gennett
Dan Sambursky
Joe Fanara
Tim Saunders
Jay Jaen
Frank Goroleski
Jeff Kopolow
Bill Mirch
