Tennis, golf, horseshoes top Island sports news
More than 100 people turned out for the first annual Aces for Education at the Cedars Tennis Resort on Jan. 15 to benefit the Manatee Education Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that provides funding for innovative programs and enhanced educational opportunities for teachers and students of Manatee County Public Schools.
Sponsors of the tennis exhibit included Waste Management and Cedars Tennis Resort.
In addition to an exhibition by junior players from the Eagleton/Ferreira Tennis Academy, which is based at Cedars, four professional tennis players competed in a doubles match and were then auctioned off to join in doubles games as partners.
Nearly 20 other people from a crowd of amateurs lined up for a chance to return a serve from one of the four pros: John Eagleton and Ellis Ferreira of the Eagleton/Ferreira Tennis Academy, Cedars pro Robbie Salum and Sergiu Pletosu, who plays at the Serendipity Racquet Club.
Among those in attendance at the tennis benefit were Judy and Don Arndt, who winter at Westbay Cove in Holmes Beach. The Arndts hail from Ontario, Canada, where he retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and she was a school teacher. Both are avid tennis players — all too evident when Don got a turn to return serve from one of the pros.
He managed to return two out of three serves from his selected tennis professional.
Manatee Education Foundation board member Sarita Montalvo also showed off her tennis skills when she joined three professionals for an impromptu game of doubles, more than holding her own.
The event — the end result of a casual conversation between Cedars’ members Les Brassington, a former school counselor, and Waste Management executive David Green — netted $5,000.
Manatee Education Foundation executive director Mary Glass said of the event, “It just goes to show how much can be accomplished when a few people work together towards common goals.”
Horseshoe news
Only two teams emerged from pool play during Jan. 15 horseshoe action at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. In a tight 21-18 contest, Jeff Moore and Bob Lee edged Art Kingstad and Bob Mason.
Three teams qualified for the knockout round during Jan. 12 horseshoe action. Norm Good and Fritz Fredrich drew the bye into the finals and watched as the team of Gene Bobeldyk and Bruce Crawford defeated Tim Sofran by a 22-12 score. The finals saw Bobeldyke-Crawford continue their winning ways in defeating Good-Fredrich by a 21-14 score.
Play gets under way at 9 a.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warm ups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection. There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.
Key Royale golf news
The women of the Key Royale Club played an individual-low-net and low-gross golf game Jan. 11. Low net winners in Flight AA were Jean Holmes and Laura Purcell, who both carded 2-over-par 34s to finish in a tie.
Flight A winner was Penny Williams with a 1-under-par 31, one shot better than second-place finishers Pam Alvord and Kathy Willis, who tied at even-par 32.
Sandy Dahl fired a 4-under-par 28 to take Flight B honors by two shots over second-place finishers Sue Wheeler and Ginny Nunn and three shots over Nancy King in third place.
Terry Westby’s 5-under-par 27 earned her the top spot in Flight C by four shots over Barb Harrold, while Sally Keyes took third place with a 1-over-par 33.
Christina Mason carded a 5-under-par 27 to win Flight D by four shots over Luanne Collins and five shots ahead of third-place finisher Trish Kruger.
The women also played a low-gross game that saw Penny Williams and Sandy Dahl shoot the low rounds of the day with matching 43s. Jean Holmes, Laura Purcell and Terry Westby were a shot back with 44s, while Luanne Collins and Willa Barkley carded 53s.
Center flag football reports will return next week. Game schedules are available at www.islander.org.
Molly McCartney contributed to this report.
AMICC NFL Flag Football schedule
Adult Division
Jan. 20 5:30 Hanks vs. Bob Vita
Jan. 20 6:30 BTBC vs. Duffy’s
Jan. 20 7:30 Slims vs. Ralph’s
Jan. 20 8:30 Duffy’s vs. Jessie’s
Jan. 20 9:30 MartiniVille vs. Sato
13-16 Division
Jan. 19 8 p.m. 1st Bank vs. Bistro
Jan. 24 8 p.m. Bones vs. 1st Bank
Jan. 25 8 p.m. Bistro vs. BVV&H
10-12 Division
Jan. 19 7 p.m. Oyster Bar vs. Eat Here
Jan. 24 6 p.m. LaPensee vs. Ross Built
Jan. 24 7 p.m. Walter vs. Holy Cow
Jan. 25 6 p.m. Mr. Spiffy vs. Oyster Bar
Jan. 25 7 p.m. LPAC vs. Sandbar
8-9 Division
Jan. 19 6 p.m. Beach Bums vs. IRE
5-7 Division
Jan. 19 6 p.m. LPAC vs. Tylers
Jan. 19 7 p.m. Tylers vs. Dental Spa
Jan. 24 6 p.m. A&E vs. LPAC