Panhandle Tennis Blog: Sept.-Oct. Winners, Fundraisers, More

Panama City’s Wachob Wins USTA Women’s 70s Singles Gold Slam

Panama City’s Betty Wachob has won the USTA Gold Slam of women’s senior singles tennis by defeating Carolann Castell 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 in the USTA Women’s 70 Indoor National Championships in Vancouver, WA. Wachob also teamed with Castell to defeat Jane Pang and Anne Russ 6-0, 6-1 in the doubles final.

Bety Wachob (left) and Carolann Castell

Wachob completed her first Gold Slam after winning the USTA National Clay Courts in April in Huntsville, AL over Cathie Anderson 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-5.

This was followed by a May Hard Courts win in La Jolla, CA over Anderson again 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 and the Grass Court title in July at Forest Hills, NY over Castell 6-2, 6-1.

Wachob won two of the doubles titles as well, one with Anderson and one with Castell.

Congratulations Betty on a great year. I’m so happy for you as a friend and a tennis partner and opponent all these years.

More Than 175 Attend Bennett Rhone Fundraiser

More than 175 people attended the Bennett Rhone Cancer Fundraiser at Roger Scott Tennis Center in Pensacola on Aug. 28, 2015. Bennett Rhone is the 12-year-old son of Erin and Ethan Rhone and was recently diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma (bone cancer).

Brian Sakey, tennis director at the Club II and fighting liver cancer, set up the pro-am and the tennis mixer which went well into the late evening.

Food was provided by Newk’s Eatery and drinks (including beer and wine) were also provided. Terrific live music was provided by Trunk Monkey.

The event featured both silent and live auctions and the pro-am Calcutta format gave players an opportunity to bid on their favorite pros and to play with this pros.

The weather was beautiful and everyone had a great time raising money for a terrific cause.

‘Help the Kids’ Fundraiser

Sunset at the “Q”, Roger Q. Scott Tennis Center

The 3rd Annual Help the Kids Tennis Tournament presented by The Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Justice Foundations was held Sept. 12, 2015 at Roger Scott Tennis in Pensacola. The format included round robin Ladies’ and Men’s Doubles flighted by levels.

A silent auction provided opportunities to bid on exceptional items and packages to add to the funds for Pensacola inner city elementary schools.

Players enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as drinks and their tennis.

One hundred percent of proceeds of around $15,000 were donated to the schools.

Tops’l Hosts High Performance Junior Weekends Feauring USPTA Master Professional Bill Tym

Tops’l Beach & Racquet Resort hosted two high performance junior tennis weekends in September and October, featuring world renowned USPTA Master Professional Bill Tym.

Players benefited from Tym’s expertise with both on the court drills and classroom instruction as well. The two events were by invitation only and were well regarded by the players.

Tym was assisted by Tops’l Director of Tennis, Joe D’Aleo, and Tops’l Head Professional, Sam Vickroy.

D’Aleo said that there will be more of these weekends in the future.

Santa Rosa Beach’s Spencer Makes Finals at Laguna Nigel Futures

Santa Rosa Beach’s Wil Spencer continues his growth as a professional tennis player with a finalist check and trophy at the $10,000 Laguna Nigel (CA) Futures held Sept. 28 thru Oct. 4, 2015. Spencer, the 5th seed, defeated Mexico’s Lucas Gomez 7-6(3), 7-6(6) in the semifinals before falling 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Nicolass Scholtz of South Africa in the finals.

Wil Spencer

Spencer also made the doubles finals with Alex Ore from Maryland where they lost 6-4, 6-3 to Brandon Holt and Riley Smith, both from the United States.

Spencer will get a chance to defend his title in Niceville on Nov. 9-15, 2015 as well as play in tourneys in Birmingham, AL, Pensacola, FL and Tallahassee, FL in the weeks before and after Niceville.

Spencer is currently ranked #482 in the world in singles and #809 in doubles.

Spencer joins Miramar Beach’s Alexa Guarachi as the only two Region 1 West players that are plying their wares on the pro circuit full time. Guarachi is currently ranked #355 in the world in singles and #218 in doubles.

Pace’s Elena Weaver Wins USTA Girls 14 Closed Regional in Norcross

Elena Weaver (right) and Avery Durham

Pace’s Elena Weaver defeated #8 seed Avery Durham of Hilton Head, SC 6-0, 7-6(0) to win the USTA Girls 14 Closed Regional held Oct. 10-12, 2015 in Norcross, GA.

Weaver defeated #1 seed Elizabet Verizova of Suwanee, GA 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the semifinals.

Weaver and Verizova lost in the semifinals of the doubles.

Players in Norcross had to perform above and by and the call when all of Saturday was rained out and the committee kept to the full three-set regimen for the rest of the 32 draw event.

UWF Duo Brasil and Peyrot Wins ITA Southern Regional, Finishes 5th at Nationals

The University of West Florida (UWF) men’s tennis top doubles team of Kenny Brasil and Alex Peyrot won the men’s doubles competition at the 2015 USTA/ITA Division II South Region Championships on Sept. 30 in Pensacola, FL. The Argo #1 team then traveled to the 2015 USTA/ITA National Small College Championships at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, S.C., on Oct. 15-18 where they finished in 5th place.

UWF’s Brasil (foreground) and Peyrot

No. 16 Nationally, Brasil and Peyrot defeated Renato Lombardi and Ahmed Triki (Barry) in the men’s doubles semifinals before defeating Alberto Campos and Alex Theiler (Saint Leo) 3-6, 7-6 (6), 12-10 in the men’s doubles championship.

The USTA/ITA National Small College Championships are comprised of the eight regional champions (and/or at-large selections) from NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community Colleges.

The USTA/ITA National Small College Championship is the only national championship event for singles and doubles at the NCAA Division II and NAIA levels. The singles and doubles champions at each divisional level compete to become the overall “Super Bowl” champions. The “Super Bowl” champions and earn wild cards into the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships.