The final Chicago Charities Tournament of the decade/century/millennium was played on a perfect autumn weekend and showcased the top talent in the game. Over 150 teams, competing in four divisions, converged to do battle in one Tournament of the decade/century/millennium was played on a perfect autumn weekend and showcased the top talent in the game. Over 150 teams, competing in four divisions, converged to do battle in one of the most competitive fields ever assembled at an APTA tournament event.

Headquartered at Glen View Club’s new “paddle palace”, the tournament provided some upsets and some near upsets. David Ohlmuller and Chris Gambino, the nation’s number one ranked team, came in from the east to defeat Chicago’s Bill Fiedler and Scott Bondurant (two-time defending champions) in a three set men’s final, displaying some of the finest driving and net play ever. The Chicago team had come off a tight three set semi with four-time defending national champions Scott Mansager and Flip Goodspeed and gave way to the young but savvy Gambino-Ohlmuller who beat Anthony Cosimano and Steve Haller in an “All-Jersey” semi.

While the men’s seeds held mostly true to form, that was not the case in the women’s tournament. Current national champions Patti Hogan and Cindy Prendergast went out in the round of 16 to Cincinnati’s Linda Thompson and Lindy Ward. Sue Aery and Gerri Viant prevailed over Robin Fulton and Sarah Krieger in the Sunday final, but not before overcoming two up-start Chicago teams in their respective semis. Wendy Robbins and Liz Richards-Hayward (the best paddle player in Phoenix) gave Aery and Viant all they could handle in their semi. Mary Doten and Julie Sierks also came up short in the other semi against Fulton and Krieger.

The men’s 45+ saw Hank Irvine pick up right where he left off years ago when he and Wilson’s John Embree defeated former 45’s national champs Jedd (Dr. Detroit) Hodges and Indy’s Jack Hogan in a well-played three set final. The indomitable team of Tom Beach and Peter Morrow bettered Chicago’s Jim Bishop and Rochester’s Mike Hannah in the men’s 55’s to cap off the great three-day event.

Tournament co-chairs Sally Cottingham and Kip Read made sure that things went off as smoothly as David Ohlmuller’s footwork and directed everything from scheduling, to the Saturday night party, to Sunday’s final matches, to a seamless conclusion, and making a huge effort look easy.

As always, the CPTC is indebted to its generous sponsors, players, and many volunteers who make this tournament a continued success year after year. The final budget has not been completed for the event, but the ‘rough estimate’ is that donations to this year’s charity, the Lydia Home Association, will be approximately $5,000.

Sponsors of the event were: APTA, Wilson, Viking, R. J. Reilly Platform Tennis Courts, and Jean Wright Real Estate.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Issue 3, January, 2000

The second issue of PTM carried some positive feedback and some complaints on delivery timeliness.

In the From the APTA … section APTA President John Horine had this to say:

“Our first issue was a smashing success. A heartfelt thanks to Wayne Dollard and APTA Board members Pete Mathews and Mark Holtschneider. Your summer efforts have resulted in a fantastic magazine. Wayne must have put 10,000 miles on his car this summer crisscrossing the country collecting pictures and articles for this seasons issues.”

Horine’s comments were echoed in the Letters to the Editor section:

“Just read your first issue cover to cover and wanted to congratulate you on a wonderful job! Forty-eight pages of interesting paddle reading…who could ask for anything more? Wishing you continued success in this worthwhile venture!”

Sally Rogers / Scarsdale, New York

“Thank you for the wonderful publication. Your history piece was particularly special and accurate. So many times I have read otherwise. Johnny (Ware) would be proud of you for your new Platform Tennis Magazine.”

Molly Blanchard Ware / Scarsdale, New York

However there were some issues, as with any new undertaking:

“As of today’s mail, I still have not received the first copy of the magazine except for the ten copies that you sent to me as a director of the APTA. This was an important issue with which to make a good impression, particularly because the APTA did not issue a tournament schedule and gave it exclusively to you for publication. I am deeply disappointed and I hope that this is not a harbinger of the remaining issues.”

Charles Vasoll/Cold Spring Harbor, New York

To which Dollard replied:

“Sorry about the two week delay in receiving issue #1. 1 did it the best 1 could and 1 did it by the book. As it tums out, the U.S. Postal Service mislabeled our magazines, lost them, and then stored them away for two weeks. Through numerous phone calls and complaints, I was told that resistance was useless. I am thankful that the magazines arrived late, rather than not at all. I am also thankful that the magazines came out as well as I had hoped. You never know what you’re going to get with a new printer and press department. We could have had a real train wreck on our hands for even the slightest graphics mistake. Finally, with help from my new ‘buddies’ at the postal service, I anticipate the mailing of PTM to go smoother for our future issues.”

Source: From the APTA, and Letters to the Editor, Platform Tennis Magazine, Issue #2, November, 1999