Lineal Group Grand Prix Series heats up platform tennis scene

The first two of the four tournament series were in Philadelphia, PA, and Greenwich, CT, and aroused lots of interest. Platform Tennis News carried the story.

“For a new idea, the four-tournament, prize money Lineal Group Grand Prix series seems to have caught on awfully fast. The first two tournaments, Philadelphia and Greenwich Invitationals, aroused lots of interest and sparked extremely competitive draws. Even more importantly, the game of platform received added exposure and publicity to both the general sports public and paddle aficionados at various clubs in the tournament areas. Posters were plastered everywhere, flyers were distributed, ads were placed in local newspapers. Top men’s players put on exhibitions on both Friday nights before the weekend draws; and top women players did likewise with youth clinics on Saturday.

In fact, the Greenwich exhibition featured Detroit’s top twosome of Jeff ‘Dr. Detroit’ Hodges and Scott Mansager, who flew in for the event, combined with reigning No. 1 Scott Staniar and one of last year’s Nationals finalists, Mike Gillespie. Those four not only put on a brisk exhibition of how the game is played for an appreciative audience, but then stayed out on the courts to rally with all the local fans who brought their rackets with them.

On Saturday, almost 50 youngsters enjoyed watching No. 1 Gerri Viant combine with top stars Patti Hogan, Sue Aery and Robin Fulton in some sterling match play. Then the four ranking players put the kids through some exercises and strategy sessions that they’ll likely use to come back and topple those top players in years to come.”

Source: Platform Tennis News, Mid-Winter 1992