Dragon boat festival raises money for cancer research
Paddlers from Paradise, representing the AMI Dragon Boat Club, traveled to Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota March 19 to compete in the Suncoast International Dragon Boat Festival. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, the festival raised more than $10,000 for In the Pink, which cares for women with cancer and contributes to breast cancer research.
In the Pink was founded in Jacksonville and has two locations there, in addition to the location in Sarasota, founded by Jeri Millard, one of the Sarasota festival’s organizers.
Paddlers from Paradise competed in the women’s 1,000 meter and won their heat, finishing with a time of 5:40. Given that they are a relatively new club and had several new paddlers, the AMI team did great.
Although rain and storms delayed the day’s schedule, a good time was had by all.
The AMI club will next race Saturday, April 9, in the Dragon Boat Festival in downtown Bradenton on the Manatee River. It is being hosted by Pan Am Dragon Boat.
Tennis group celebrates another year of play
The newly resurfaced courts at The Center of Anna Maria Island — compliments of Rex Hagen, the donor who originally dedicated the courts — provided a great venue for the tennis regulars’ annual tournament.
The three-day event March 14-16 included 24 mixed male and female players battling for the much-coveted trophies. First-place winner was Pat Brubaker, who captured both top player and top female player.
There was a four-way tie for second place between Herman Sus, Bill Desormeau, Lane Bromberg and Sharon Smosky.
All participants received a trophy, including one for good sportsmanship and Mr. & Ms. Congeniality.
The awards banquet was held March 21 at the Sandbar Restaurant pavilion to celebrate another fun season of competition. The banquet continues with thanks to the efforts of Mark and Jean Swift and the generosity of Sandbar owner Ed Chiles.
Bill Shuman, chair of the center board of directors, made an appearance at the banquet and thanked the tennis group for its continued support.
Following the presentations, the group gave Hagen a standing ovation for his generosity and unwavering support for AMI tennis.
Proceeds from the tournament were donated to the center.
Adult flag football playoffs
Adult flag football playoff action at the center got started March 23 with three first-round games played. Top-seed Beach House Real Estate earned a bye into the second round, while the rest of the league battled to stay alive another week.
No. 3 seed Beach to Bay Construction eliminated sixth seed Mason Martin by a 34-27 score to open the night’s action. Second seed Moss Builders rolled past No. 7 Tyler’s Ice Cream 39-12, and fifth seed Truly Nolen upset No. 4 seed Coldwell Banker 33-27.
Playoffs continue March 30, with a matchup between Beach House Real Estate and Truly Nolen in the first semifinal game at 7 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by the builder battle between Moss and Beach to Bay.
Horseshoe news
Four teams emerged from pool play in March 23 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. Team Bob — Lee and Palmer — rolled to an easy 23-4 victory over Jay Disbrow and Steve Hooper, while Bob Mason and Hank Huyghe advanced to the finals on the strength of a 22-13 victory over Myles Macleod and Tom Skoloda to earn the day’s bragging rights.
The March 26 games saw three teams advance to the knockout stage. Bob Rowley and Bob Palmer teamed to draw a bye into the finals and watched as Myles Macleod and Bob Lee took out Rod Bussey and Kevin Monahan by a 21-9 score. Macleod-Lee then held on for a tight 21-19 victory in the finals over Rowley-Palmer to earn a trip to the winner’s circle.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Everyone is welcome.
Key Royale golf news
The Key Royale Club men got out for a weekly golf match March 21, starting with a better-ball-of-partners challenge in the morning. Dave Kruger and Jim Lathrop combined on a 6-under-par 26 to match the low score posted by Jim Auch and Chet Hutton.
Later in the day, the men were back on the course for a nine-hole, modified-Stableford System match.
Bill MacMillan and Peter Solleveld both finished at plus-3 to tie for first place in the individual category, while Tim Friessen, Greg Shorten and John Finley combined on a minus-2 to grab first place in the team event.
The Key Royale women played a nine-hole individual-low-net match in four flights March 22.
Judy Christensen fired a 3-under-par 29 to grab first place in Flight A by two strokes over second-place finisher Sue Little, who rode a birdie on the eighth hole to a 1-under-par 31. Helen Pollock was alone in third place at 1-over-par 33.
Penny Williams’ 4-under-par 28 was the low round of the day, good for first place in Flight B, while Sue Wheeler was alone in second place at 1-under-par 31. Liz Lang, Fran Barford and Barb Estok were in a three-way tie for third at even-par 32.
First place in Flight C went to Sharon Tarras, who carded a 3-under-par 29, two shots ahead of second-place finisher Roxanne Koche and and three clear of third-place finisher Jan Turner.
Janet Razze’s 2-under 30 put her on top in Flight D by one stroke over Markie Ksiasek. Willa Barkley and Penny Auch were tied for third at 3-over-par 35.
The men were back on the course March 24 for a nine-hole team scramble. Larry Pippel, Wayne Patterson, John Cassese and Bob Blazer shared clubhouse bragging rights at 1-under-par 31 with the team of Gary Risner, Pete Weir, Bill Lowman and John Purcell.