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ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL BOB PUTNAM JUNIOR TOURNAMENT
WITH THANKS TO MANY TTC MEMBERS
(see also pictures below)
On August 6 and 7, our Tsawwassen Tennis Club (TTC) hosted non-stop singles tennis for the sixth annual Bob Putnam Junior Challenger. This Tennis BC sanctioned event honours our very own TTC member Bob Putnam. The tournament attracted 70 players (BGs 12, 14, 16 and 18) from across the Lower Mainland as well as Victoria, Nanaimo, Portland and Palm Desert. Matches were held at the tennis club and at Brandrith Park.
A huge thank you to all TTC members who helped to make the tournament a raving success. Throughout the weekend, parents and participants offered positive comments that the event was well organized and that people working the tournament were friendly and helpful. Hallmarks for this tournament include a gift for every participant at check-in as well as a free meal on both days.
TTC member Debbie Slaco worked tirelessly as chief organizer with significant help from TTC member Bobbie Putnam. TTC Ladies League Division 5 “The Pearls” volunteered their time to bake cookies and muffins, barbecue hotdogs, make coffee, and staff the concession throughout the weekend. Thanks, too, to other club members who provided baking, including TTC junior Simon Hawke whose chocolate chip cookies became a favourite. Local businesses Thrifty Foods, Safeway, Tim Horton’s and Shoppers Drug Mart donated food and refreshments. “Pearl” Corinne Kerr donated all the trophies which Bob Putnam awarded to every winner and runner up in each event. Tournament chair and TTC member Paul Marsden and his assistant Nora Eldred, also a TTC member, staffed the tournament desk tirelessly and cheerfully for more than 25 hours over the two days and Paul logged many pre-tournament hours to ensure the event ran smoothly. TTC member Sydney Delaney served as Tennis BC referee who officiated where needed. Thank you to TTC members Harvey Delaney, Paul Fisher, Yoshiko Kawakami and Bob Putnam for donating funds to purchase gifts for each of the 70 participants.
“We were impressed by the calibre of play and the sportsmanship of the players,” says Bob Putnam, who, with wife Bobbie, worked the tournament and watched many of the matches. The last trophy Bob presented was at 9:15 p.m. Sunday evening when the B12 final between No. 1 seed Michael Chu and No. 6 seed Jovan Sihota finished after more than three hours of play. Chu won 6-7; 6-4; 10-4 (superset tiebreak).
Five TTC juniors competed in the tournament—Simon Hawke (B12), Chris Jackson (B16), Matthew Jackson (B16), Jennie Jackson (G16/18) and Scott Bailey (B16). Two made it to the final round. No. 3 seed Scott Bailey battled No. 2 seed Alexei Zaroubo in Boys 16, losing the close match in a superset tiebreak 6-7; 7-6 (7-4); 10-3. No. 3 seed Jennie Jackson lost to Stella Song 5-7, 2-6.
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