Lake Oconee tennis

Greensboro Tennis at Lake Oconee

– Tennis players converged on Greensboro from far and near to participate in the fourth-annual Lake Oconee Tennis Association’s LOTA Classic doubles tournament this past weekend.

Players came from the states of Texas, Florida and Tennessee, as well as the cities of Atlanta, Conyers, Milledgeville, Hiawasee, Madison, among others to take to the courts at Reynolds Plantation’s Lake Club tennis facility.

All told, 90 men and women competed for championship trophies in six different divisions, representing different levels of play. Those included men’s AA, A and B divisions, as well as women’s A, B and C divisions.

The winners in each division were as follows:

In the men’s AA division, Steve Peluso and Bart Szafnicki (champions), Gordon Bush and Lin Logan (finalists) and Rick Franks and Ron Kalpak (consolation winners);

In the men’s A division, Jerry Caldwell and Dick Settles (champions), Duane Artz and Dave Sypkens (finalists) and David Adamo and Hector Cornejo (consolation winners);

In the women’s A division, Diane Johnson and Carol Thompson (champions), Debbie Curtis and Martha Franks (finalists) and Sandra De Irala and Suzanne O’Malley (consolation winners);

In the men’s B division, Roger Fields and Ron Jeitz (champions), Jim Finkenhoefer and Charles Price (finalists) and Dave Altman and Scott Joris (consolation winners);

In the women’s B division, Patti Finkenhoefer and Denise Price (champions), Jennifer Keip and Robyn Mann (finalists) and Rhonda Ladonickzki and Cathy Hayes (consolation winners);

In the women’s C division, Jane Sowell and Joan Weghorst (champions), Coleen Chima and Adelaide Herrington (finalists) and Eileen Hepler and Lee Jackson (consolation winners).

This year’s underwriting sponsor was Richard’s Classic Wines. The event kicked off with a “Draw Party” last Thursday evening at Richard’s Wine Bar that included complimentary wine and appetizers.

The weekend was highlighted by a celebration event Saturday evening for players, their guests and event sponsors that included a dinner catered by Make Room for Seconds and dancing to the best party band around, The Harmony Road Band.

The LOTA wished to express its sincerest appreciation to mega-sponsors KB Voiceovers, Plum Creek Timber Company and St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital and tournament sponsors Acura & Volvo of Athens, Aesthetic & Dermatology Specialty Centre/Dr. Yune, BankSouth, Bug House of Lake Oconee, Franks’ Chiropractic Life Center PC, Keller Williams LOR/Kim & Lin Logan, Keller Williams Realty/Gordon Van Mol, Lake Oconee Dentistry, LoanSouth Mortgage and Robert A. Reynolds.

In addition, numerous local establishments donated over 25 prizes for the players.

Due to such generosity on the part of the sponsors and the players, who each paid a tournament entry fee, the LOTA anticipates a donation in excess of $5,000 to ATLAS Ministry Inc. This figure also includes funds raised from a three-day silent auction and donations given for hot dog lunch plates.

The LOTA hopes to have many other tennis players, both locally and from afar, participate in next year’s event to make new friends, play challenging tennis and support a worthwhile cause, all while having a great time.

The association wishes to thank all those who played, sponsored or supported this year’s LOTA Classic in any way.

For more information on the Lake Oconee Tennis Association, visit www.LOTAtennis.com.