Avila Charity <strong>Tennis</strong> TournamentRoger Cypriano, USPTAWhat a great year for the AvilaCharity <strong>Tennis</strong> Tournament.We received tremendoussupport from all ends: sponsors,players, auction itemsand even the weather wereoutstanding with a gorgeous sun shining on us. TheFriday night dinner had about 300 attendees whoenjoyed bidding on many silent and some grand liveauction items. The eight draw tournament had 114players participating. We had matches that lastedabout 55 minutes and matches that lasted over justabout 3 1/2 hours. We had plenty of food and drinksto keep all spectators around for the men’s invitationaldivision and late matches scheduled to start at 6:30pm. The tournament crowned eight champions, butthe real champion was Mary Lee’s House that at theend benefited from the proceeds of this event. Theevent netted just over $100,000.00. Thank you all foryour support!Palm Beach County Sheriff’s OfficePolice Athletic LeagueProudly PresentsThe First KAPTA Trip to New York Cityfor the Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the U.S. Open.Please help donate to the event so the kids canhave a chance to attend the Arthur Ashe Kids Dayand the opening day at the U.S. Open in New YorkAugust 26-August 30, 2011.Every bit of donations will help. Donations will go toAirfare, Hotel, Transportation, Food and tickets tothe events. Your donations may be tax deductible.We are a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. Paymentscan be made through PAYPAL on our web page orMake Checks out to: PBC PAL KAPTAKAPTA Director Deputy Sheriff Ira PeskowitzE-Mail: Peskowitzi@pbso.orgWeb Page: www.kaptaonline.net
BCC <strong>Tennis</strong> Festival “Cure for Kids” hosted by Bradenton Country ClubJack Steyn, USPTA District PresidentMarch is a tennis lover’s haven in Bradenton, Fla.The weather is perfect, people are visiting from all cornersof the world, and there are plenty of tennis events. BradentonCountry Club is thankful for the environment andalways hosts a two day “Cure for Kids” <strong>Tennis</strong> Festival.The Del Rio Investments “Cure for Kids” festivity kicks offwith a Pro Am and Dinner event on the Friday, and movesinto a dynamic one day doubles event on the Saturday.The event usually raises money for two charitable organizations-the “V Foundation,” which provides research forcancer in children, and the JDRF, which researches juvenilediabetes. Thus far a total of $50,000 has been raisedover the past six years.This year however we addeda third recipient, a young girl by the name of ChastenWhitfield. Chasten is an eleven year old resident of AnnaMaria Island, who spends her free time raising money tohelp children with cancer. To date she has raised morethan $4,000. She has her own website, www.chastenshope.com,and all the money she raises goes to St. JudeResearch Hospital. She has appeared on local televisionand has been featured in the Bradenton Herald to furtherher cause. Chasten was our guest speaker at the ProAm dinner and stole all of our hearts with her youthfuldedication to her goal: “I want to give doctors at St Jude’sResearch Hospital money, so that they can find a cure forcancer before I have kids.”Laurie Tinnell, “Cure for Kids” Tournament, andBCC Director handed Chasten a check for $500 with apromise of more to follow in the future. Following Chastenwas a live auction for four US Open tickets donated bynew Bradenton resident Jeffrey Aarts. For 2011 a totalof more than $7500 was raised for our charities. Our ProAm was won by Bradenton Country Club Head Pro, JackSteyn, and BCC member, Lisa Sutherland. Finalists wereBCC Pro Ben Adrian and Natalia Garcia. Pro Am playersincluded Nina Schmidt, Winston Owen, Devante Lindsey,Xue Zhang, EJ Sandford, Sarka Vitkova and Jeffrey Aarts.The Friday fun was completed with “The SoulRCoasters”band that filled the room with great tunes coaxing everyoneto the dance floor.Players and USPTA Teaching <strong>Professional</strong>s fromthe area, including IMG Academies, battled their skills forthe share of a total of $3,000 in prize money in the Opendivisions. This year we had IMG Teaching Pro and formerATP Tour player, Dante Bottini, retaining the Men’s Openprize with new partner, Luis Arboleda, in a third set tiebreak against ATP player, Vamsee Chappidi, and teachingPro, Weylu Chang. The mixed Open final was alsoa tremendous match. Patrick Bateman, assistant Pro toBetsy Nagelsen, and SCF player Laurence Porry, lost toITF Junior player Xue Zhang and her Pro and former toptwo hundred ATP player, Lyndsey Devante. The Women’sDoubles final was also a close three setter, with DanielleHollis and Tina Von Kessel taking the honors over LaurieTinnell and Jennifer Fiers.Men’s Open l-r: Winners DanteBottini, Luis Arboleda; FinalistsWeylu Chang, Vamsee ChappidiChasten WhitfieldPro Am Players l-r: standing: Winston Owen, EJ Sanford, LarryGreenspon, Xue Zhang, Nina Schmidt, Susan Adrian, Sarka Vitkova,Carol Niebanck, Steve Sutherland, Devante Lyndsey, Ben Adrian,Natalia Garcia, Jeffrey Aarts, Tony Rogers. Kneeling: Milton Little; JackSteyn and Lisa SutherlandCongratulations to the following players:Men’s Open: Winners: Dante Bottini & Luis ArboledaMen’s Open: Finalists: Vamsee Chappidi & Weylu ChangWomen’s Open:Winners: Danielle Hollis & Tina von KessellFinalists: Laurie Tinnell & Jennifer FiersMixed Open: Winners: Xue Zhang & Devante LyndseyMixed Open Finalists: Patrick Bateman & Laurence PorryWomen’s 8.0 Winners: Mary Wilson & Suzanne BoothFinalists: Barb Mire and Donna FettersMen’s 8.0 Winners: Josh Bernnett & Blaze FreminFinalists: Jake Corby & Larry GreensponWomen’s 7.0 Winners: Janice Herschel & Lisa SutherlandFinalists: Annie Brey & Tea BinderA special thank you to local kids, Aiden Little, Annie Brey andTea Binder who were priceless helpers throughout the tournament.Bradenton Country Club would also like to extend a specialthank you to:The Title Sponsor: Del Rio Investments LLC (The NiebanckFamily)The Elite Banner Sponsors: Bradenton Herald; Reba & TonyRogers (AAA Bookkeeping & Tax)The Sport Banner Sponsors: Herbal Powers Corp HP Ingredients(Carlos Escalante); Paul Drummey (Merrill Lynch); DavidLeslie(David H Leslie,DMD,PA); Jim and Anita Comisky (Comisky& Associates, Accounting & Taxes); Kallins, Little, Delgado, &Opstal, PA (Attorneys at Law); Manson Roofing (George Man-