Over 100 families from across the province were at the Tsawwassen Tennis Club for the 11th Annual Bob Putnam Junior Challenger Tennis Tournament.
The bevy of volunteers that come together to make this tournament one of BC’s most loved, sanctioned junior tennis events is astounding. Starting with the tournament’s namesake — Bob Putnam and his wife Bobbie — who organize all the volunteers and ensure everyone is well fed, well-treated and happy — players, parents and volunteers alike.
The hours that tournament director and Paul Marsden and behind-the-scenes organizational marvel Kathleen Semple put in, came to fruition when they could even accommodate 12 late player entries.
The baking provided by club members kept everyone’s spirits up and the rotating slate of clubhouse hosts and barbecuers showed how great it is when team spirit grows organically.
On the courts, there were full draws of 32 players in both the Boys and Girls U12 and U14 divisons. Boys U16 and U18 had 16 players in each, while the girls U16 draw saw five players doing battle. This year’s matches showed the success of a growing tennis industry with first-class games being played at all ages.
Unseeded Nick He turned in an impressive performance to capture the U18 boys title. The Tsawwassen resident did not drop a set over the weekend, including a convincing 6-1, 6-1 victory over No. 1 seed Graeme Mcintosh in the championship match.
He opened with a dominant win over Blair Ference (6-0, 6-0) then served noticed by defeating No. 2 seed Jackson Boone by the same score.
His win was one of the few surprises at this year’s event which once again attracted top junior players from throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. No. 1 seeds captured four of the six division titles that were on the line.
Here is a rundown of the top four finishers from each age group:
U12 Boys
Luka Zoric (1) 2. Thomas Friesen (2) 3/4. Cameron Jim (5) and Andrew Chan (4).
U12 Girls
Jessica Church (2) 2. Zoey Qiu (3) 3/4. Gabriella Vannessa Lindgren and Catherine Bobrovskaya (4).
U14 Boys
Aaron Varat Ungprasert (1) 2. Justin Jacob Friesen (2) 3/4. Denny Bao (4) and Thomas Ford (3).
U14 Girls
Brooke Andrews (1) 2. Genna Warren (4) 3/4/ Selina Alano and Jessa Michieli (3).
U16 Boys
Stewart Bernard Aronson (1) 2. Aram Noroozian (2) 3/4. Mathew Chin and Dilraj Singh Phull.
U16 Girls
Lucia Emily Kristof 2. Tiana Xie 3. Jimi Lee 4. Grace Gorges
U18 Boys
Nick He 2. Graeme Mcintosh (1) 3/4. Ethan Churchill and David Zoric.
