Despite a day of rain, the annual Lopez Open Tennis Tournament was a resounding success.
Good planning overcame the loss of one full day of rain by shortening some matches and leaving the finals at full length.
The range of abilities and ages were large. Take for example one of the first matches pitting old age and treachery against youth and inexperience. Tom McDaniel and Timothy Maxon (60 somethings) played their opening men’s doubles match against 12-year-old twins, Spencer DeVore-Feinstein and Alexander DeVore-Feinstein.
While the outcome was expected (the old guys won), they all had a great time, demonstrating that the Lopez Open appeals to all ages and levels of play. In an unusual twist there was no men’s singles. However, the turnout for all the doubles was one of the best.
Lopez Island Community Tennis Association carefully chose a date this year that did not compete with other community events only to have the one serious rainfall of the summer land in the middle of the event. There were players from Seattle, Friday Harbor, and Lopez Island this year. Pictures and results of the event are available online along with general information about tennis on Lopez at: www.licta.org.
Nancy Bingham made plates that were the trophies for each champion. Winners include; Men’s Doubles: Marc Feinstein(father of the twins) of Seattle and Dick Barnes of Friday Harbor.
Women’s Doubles: Christie Driskell and Audrey Wakefield both from Lopez.
Mixed Doubles: Mark Collingwood and Marybeth Morstad from Seattle.
LICTA has run the Open for the past 10 years. Anyone is eligible to enter. LICTA was responsible for the construction of the courts on school property, just south of the school play fields. Membership funds their maintenance and members of the community, even those who don’t play tennis, to support us.
Please check the web site for information: www.licta.org. The courts are well used by visitors and residents throughout the summer. There is equipment including a ball machine available for members use. This year LICTA assisted with a clinic for middle school students. Christie Driscoll was the instructor with help from LICTA members Kirman Taylor, Tom and Elaine MacDaniel.
