Preview of Ultimate Tennis Championships to be held at Breckenridge Golf and Country Club in Estero, Florida, on Saturday, May 10.

Ultimate Tennis Championships Return to SW FL

For the first time in almost a decade, Southwest Florida will host its own Ultimate Tennis League (UTL) Championship event. Thirteen Championship matches will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Breckenridge Golf & Tennis Club in Estero, FL. The Southwest Ultimate Tennis League Championships host players representing Women’s 2.5 through 5.0 singles divisions, and Men’s 2.5 through 6.0 singles divisions, and covers an area from Sarasota to Naples.

Asked about bringing the Championships back to Southwest Florida, Ultimate Tennis Founder and Director, Scott Nunn, responded, “We brought the championships back as a convenience to the players in the region, and it offers exposure for the host clubs, for Ultimate Tennis, and for the players themselves.” Director of Tennis at Breckenridge, Armor Persons had his own reasons for wanting to host the event.

Breckenridge Golf and Country Club to Host

According to Persons, “My club members love watching competitive tennis, and this is a great event for the beginning of the off season.” Person also noted, “A number of my members have told me that they want to play singles but can’t find any leagues. Well, I have told them that there is a league for singles, and I wanted to expose them to Ultimate Tennis.

Competitive Finals on Tap

Well, from the novice level (2.5) to the seasoned competitors (6.0) Breckenridge members, the families and friends of all the participants will be treated to a day of very competitive match-ups, and that was the intent when UTL was conceived. The following are previews of the women's finals.

Women's 2.5

Lisa Reily of Cape Coral will face Vivian Miller of Cape Coral for the Women’s 2.5 Championship. Both players have had only one loss this season, with Miller’s only loss being to Reily. Making things interesting, Reily’s one loss came in a three-setter to Eileen Coy of Cape Coral, yet Miller beat Coy easily. This final ought to be as competitive as any of the 13 scheduled.

Women's 3.0

Janey Cahill of Cape Coral will face the victor of the match between Juvilyn Sutherland, and Katie Duke. Duke already has a win over Sutherland, and Cahill is undefeated this season. If her strong play thus far is any indicator, Cahill is likely to claim her first UTL title.

Women's 3.5

Edwina Weiss of Cape Coral is match-tough, winning two three-set matches in the playoffs to reach the final, where she will play Angelika Neumann of Palmetto. In her seventh UTL season, Neumann went 5-2 in the regular season, and pulled out a three-setter in the semis to earn the right to face Weiss. The two played two years ago in the semis, with Weiss winning in three sets. Another three-setter is brewing for these two.

Women's 4.0

Jami Kellogg of Sarasota lost her first match of the season to Lisa Beckstein of Sarasota, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7, then decided to get serious. She didn’t drop another set until she played Barbara Moore of Bradenton in the semis. This time, won the three-setter, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Kellogg faces the winner of the match between Beth Vorbeck of Bradenton and Wendy Heckler of Fort Myers. Heckler is the Summer League Champion from 2007 and has a stellar record of 21-4 in her three season of UTL play. Vorbeck is appearing in the semifinals for the first time, after a clutch 6-3 6-7 7-6 win over Claire Bloomfield of Nokomis. Either player ought to offer Kellogg all she can handle.

Women's 4.5

Maria Dull of Sarasota, in her 13th season of UTL play, is anything but dull and will play the winner of Brenda Mike of Apollo Beach, a 14-season veteran of UTL, versus relative newcomer, Lynn Shea (six seasons) of Lakewood Ranch. Dull has played every season of UTL since spring of 2004, and has claimed two championships: 3.5 in Summer ‘04 and 4.0 in Summer ’05. This is her eighth try at the 4.5 title.

Shea has beaten Mike twice this season, both in straight-sets. Shea also has two straight-set losses to Marcia Frost, whom Dull beat in the semis. Chances are Shea and Dull will meet for their first 4.5 Championship, with Dull emerging the victor.

Women's 5.0

Lisa Meshad of Sarasota plays Julie London of Sarasota in the top Women’s division: 5.0. Showing stamina and grit, London won three of four three-setters this season. Viewing common opponents, London’s lone three-set loss came to Francine King of Sarasota, 7-5, 1-6, 5-7, while Meshad beat King 6-0, 6-1. Both lost by similar straight-set scores to Carmen Clemans of Sarasota. This should be a hotly contested battle.

The public is welcome to attend the Championships, and to sign up for the UTL summer season by May 14.