Mike Bock sets up for a ball off the back wall while partner Kelly Russell waits mid-court in the final of 55-Doubles.

LAS VEGAS - Naty Alvarado and Mike Panko held off a second game charge by Tyler Hamel and Greg Tomasyan to take the coveted 35-plus title.

The most impressive win of the day came in the very competitive 55-plus final. Mike Bock and Kelly Russell rallied from a 9-0 deficit in the first game to take a 20-16 lead. After Russell lost his serve Bock double-faulted to give Danny Carrillo and Tom Fitzwater the opening they needed to take the first game 21-20. Emotionally and physically drained Bock not only recovered but took charge in the second to force a tiebreaker. Down 5-1 in the deciding game, Bock and Russell had just enough left to rally for an 11-7 win.

The Dunne brothers were on their game in the 40s, handling fellow Bay area players Mike McDonald and Lennart DeLaTorre in two games. Jay Miller got his first national title by overpowering William Cervantes and Tom Martinez with Rick Anderson handling the front court duties. “I’ll be looking forward to some No. 1 seeds now,” Jay said with pride.

Dave Dohman was the class of the 50-plus field, teaming with Scott Rosenthal for his first national championship. “Now, I’ll be traveling to get some more,” Scott said. They defeated Lloyd Garcia and Mike Kearney in the final in two.

Vance McInnis and Ed Campbell are the new big, burly guys to beat in the 60s. “They were just too strong,” finalist Terry Nett said. “And, it’s hard to get around there with them taking up so much court.” Nett and Hinkleman made a run in the second but it wasn’t enough to force a third.

“That means a lot,” Jim Hartzell said of his first national title. And, it didn’t come easy as he and Jim Smith needed three long games to outlast Noel Olshan and John Nottingham.

The 70s was another marathon as Jim Economides and Mike Driscoll rallied from 4-1 in the tiebreaker to win 11-4. “Mike got 8 on his serve,” said Economides. “It sure helps to have a smart partner,” Jim added. Economides and Driscoll gave Ed Grossenbacher, who teamed with Norm Young, a rare loss in national masters as the only other one in the last year was at the hands of Driscoll in the National One-Wall Singles.

The Royal Flush finished up on Sunday as well. Greg Ramirez and Manny Resendez beat Mark Zamora Jr. and Eli Baraja for the open title. “Not bad for an old guy,” said a proud Resendez when he picked up his prize.

Joe Harris and Bruce Handelman led a strong contingent of Las Vegas Handball Club Players who made the event a success.

35 Doubles:

First Round: Naty Alvarado Jr./Mike Panko (CA/WI) bye; Jim Bardwell/Jim Karner (TX/NM) d. Vern Roberts/Chris McDonald (AZ/CA), 9, 17; Allie Abdulla/Paul Godina (CA) d. Joe Harris/Manny Resendez (NV/CA), (18), 11, 7; Tyler Hamel/Greg Tomasyan (TX/CA) bye.  

Semifinals: Alvarado/Panko d. Bardwell/Karner, (11), 19, 2; Hamel/Tomasyan d. Abdulla/Godina, 16, 18.

Final: Alvarado/Panko d. Hamel/Tomasyan, 5, 18.

40 Doubles:

First Round: Mike Dunne/Rich Dunne (CA), bye; Armando Ortiz/Daniel Ortiz (CA) d. Ralph Fregoso/Martin Ferriter (CA/NV), 16, 16; Mark Zamora/Al Alvarez (CA) d. George Goodman/Ted Grammatica (MI), 6, 1; Mike McDonald/Lennart DeLaTorre (CA) bye.
                                   
Semifinals: Dunne/Dunne d. Ortiz/Ortiz, 6, 6; McDonald/DeLaTorre d. Alvarez/Zamora, 14, (7), 0.
 
Final: Dunne/Dunne d. McDonald/DeLaTorre, 6, 11.  

45 Doubles Round Robin Results:

First: Rick Anderson/Jay Miller (MD) d. William Cervantes/Tom Martinez (NM/CA), 2, 9; Nacho Veloz/Guillermo Pallares, 0, 6.; Steve Chicarell/Terry Morris (CO/NV), 6, 4.

Second: William Cervantes/Tom Martinez (NM/CA) d. Nacho Veloz/Guillermo Pallares (TX), 13, 5; Steve Chicarell/Terry Morris (CO/NV), 4, 7.

Third: Veloz/Pallares d. Chicarell/Morres, 7, 17.
 
50 Doubles:

First Round: Dave Dohman/Scott Rosenthal (IL) d. Mike Bonnell/Robert Camacho (AZ/CA), 12, 12; Rex Melton/Nick Bandak (CA) d. Steve Stanisich/Joel Crowley (NM/AZ), 14, 12; Dave Ramsey/Geraldo Garcia (CA) d. Octavio Martinez/Jesse Lopez (CA), (1), 14, 2; Lloyd Garcia/Mike Kearney (CO) d. Rubin Cabral/Sam Gonzalez (CA), 10, 1.  

Semifinals: Dohman/Rosenthal d. Melton/Bandak, 7, 3; Garcia/Kearney d. Ramsey/Garcia, 12, 6.

Final: Dohman/Rosenthal d. Garcia/Kearney, 4, 13.  

55 Doubles:

First Round: Tom Fitzwater/Danny Carrillo (CA) d. Chico Aguiar/Geoff Smyth (CA), 7, 8; Tim Murray/Bob Dyke (FL/VA) d. Rusty Seedborg/Mark Shelgren (NV/CA), 2, (13), 9; Mike Bock/Kelly Russell (CA) d. Jay Temple/Jon Roder (CO), 9, 7; Glenn Carden/Jim Spencer (WA) d. David Dains/Gabe Enriquez (CA), 4, 4.  

Semifinals: Fitzwater/Carrillo d. Murray/Dyke, 6, 6; Bock/Russell d. Carden/Spencer, (13), 16, 7.

Final: Bock/Russell d. Fitzwater/Carrillo, (20), 9, 8.  

55 Cons. Final: Jay Temple/Jon Roder d. Rusty Seedborg/Mark Shelgren, 14, 14.  

60 Doubles:

First Round: Rich Polson/Dave Ackerman (CA) d. Fred Fischer/Mike Merman (CA), (16), 9, 5; George Garcia/Mike Owens (CA/TX) d. Jim Lowe/Rick Graham (MI), (8), 16, 8;  Jerry Jarrett/Bruce Lemmon (CA) d. Dave Rios/Rich Calkins (6, (15), 5.
 
Round of 16: Alan Sherrill/Jay Capell (CA) d. Ackerman/Polson, 9, 2; Greg Stansbury/Rob Nichols (CA) d. Bob Snyder/Dave Lindgren (VA/OR), 4, 8; Dave Morones/Nacho Lario (CA) d. Wayne Black/Sergio Galvez (CA), 11, 9; Vance McInnis/Ed Campbell (IL/CA) d. Rick Moldover/Mike Schaefer (NV), 3, 5; George Garcia/Mike Owen (CA/TX) d. Steve Housman/Lew Lambert (CA/CO), 14, 5; Dan Scilley/Russ Whitten (MT) d. Roberto Chavez/Ruben Ramirez (CA), 18, 15; Bruce Handelman/Bob Tutlewski (NV/IN) d. Steve Bauer/Greg Taylor (CO/MN), 6, 11; Terry Nett/John Hinkleman (CO/MD) d. Jerry Jarrett/Bruce Lemmon (CA), 18, (17), 5.  

Quarterfinals: Sherrill/Capell d. Stansbury/Nichols, (12), 8, 4; McInnis/Campbell d. Morones/Lario, 7, 2; Scilley/Whitten d. Garcia/Owen, 14, 14; Nett/Hinkleman d. Handelman/Tutlewski, 19 (18), 3.
 
Semifinals: McInnis/Campbell d. Sherrill/Capell, 11, 16; Nett/Hinkleman d. Scilley/Whitten, 16, 12.  

Final: McInnis/Campbell d. Nett/Hinkleman, 7, 11.

60 Cons. Champions: Roberto Chavez/Ruben Ramirez.  

65 Doubles:

First Round: Rich Robitaille/John Loretz (CA), bye; Jim Hartzell/Jim Smith (IA/CA) d. Larry Waldrop/Mike Kogan (CA), 14, 16; John Bailey/Ron Cole (KS/TX) d. Ernie Contreras/Luis Marquez (CA/CO), (12), 16, 4; John Nottingham/Noel Olshan (CA),  bye.
 
Semfinals: Smith/Hartzell d. Robitaille/Loretz, 6, (12), 6; Nottingham/Olshan d. Bailey/Cole, 9, 12.  

Final: Smith/Hartzell d. Nottingham/Olshan, (14), 10, 8.
 
65 Cons. Champions: Luis Marquez/Ernie Contreras
 
70 Doubles:

First Round: Jim Economides/Mike Driscoll (NM/TX) bye; Mike Miller/Ron Almadova (CA/NV) d. Chuck Davis/Ron Hauptman (CA), 8, 9; Bob Harris/Fred Chapman (NV/MT) d. Don Cooper/Jack McIntyre (NV), 10, 13; Ed Grossenbacher/Norm Young (OR/MI) d. Bill Fitzpatrick/Charlie Shoten (IL/NV), 4, 13.
 
Semifinals: Economides/Driscoll d. Miller/Almadova, 20, 8; Grossenbacher/Young d. Harris/Chapman, 7, 16.  

Final: Economides/Driscoll d. Grossenbacher/Young, 14, (12), 4.  

75 Doubles Round Robin Final Standings:

First: Bill Strawn/Jack Cherrington (KS/WA) d. Don Elwood/Dave Thoreson (CA), 20, 0; Lew Buckingham/Joe Lenhart (PA/CA), 19, 3; Walker/Rick DiFulvio (NV), 4, 5.

Second: Elwood/Thoreson d. Buckingham/Lenhart, (13), 12, 3; Walker/DiFulvio, 14, 20.

Third: Buckingham/Lenhart (PA/CA) d. Walker/DiFulvio, 12, 10.

Royal Flush Doubles  

Open Doubles

Semifinals: Manny Resendez/Greg Ramirez d. Ismael Meneses/Paublo Nunez, def.; Mark Zamora Jr./Eli Baraja  d. Jerry Fregoso/Eddie Fregoso, 3, 15.
 

Final: Resendez/Ramirez d. Zamora/Baraja, 15, 9.
 

B Doubles:

Semifinals: Joe Leonis/Marty Fisher d. Tommy Valenzuela/Joel Perez, 20, 18; Manny Martinez/Marco Coromac d. Robert Johnnson/Pat Barnhoeft, 18, 19.
 

Final: Martinez/Coromac d. Leonis/Fisher, 20, (10), 0.
 

C Doubles:

Semifinals: John Thompson/Tommy Torres d. Rafael Fregoso/George Fregoso; Alvaro Pineda/ Juan Carlos d. Candelario Ortega/Joe Cordovo.
 

Final: Pineda/Carlos d. Thompson/Torres, 19, 3. 

Las Vegas Masters Doubles

We’ve got our first national champions from this weekend’s National Masters Doubles.  Jack Cherrington and Bill Strawn rallied from a 15-4 deficit in the first game to defeat Joe Lenhart and Lew Buckingham, 21-19, 21-3, on Saturday to finish undefeated in the 75-plus event.  Don Elwood and Dave Thoreson earned second with their earlier tiebreaker win over Lenhart and Buckingham.

The Dream Team of Naty Alvarado and Mike Panko got an opening round scare when Jim Bardwell and Jim Karner (Setting with all eyes on him in top photo), took the first game, 21-11, and came within two points of winning the second, 19-21.  Alvarado rarely relinquished the serve in the tiebreaker, cruising to an 11-2 win to reach Sunday’s final.  Tyler Hamel and Greg Tomasyan await them after beating Allie Abdulla and Paul Godina in two close games.

It’s an all-San Francisco in the 40-plus as the booming Dunne Brothers (Rich  hitting in bottom photo and Mike), back after a six-year hiatus, square off against Mike McDonald and Lennart DeLaTorre.

The Royal Flush will be down to the final matches late Saturday and the results will be posted on Sunday. 

  Saturday Masters Results:

35 Doubles:

First Round: Naty Alvarado Jr./Mike Panko (CA/WI) bye; Jim Bardwell/Jim Karner (TX/NM) d. Vern Roberts/Chris McDonald (AZ/CA), 9, 17; Allie Abdulla/Paul Godina (CA) d. Joe Harris/Manny Resendez (NV/CA), (18), 11, 7; Tyler Hamel/Greg Tomasyan (TX/CA) bye.

Semifinals: Alvarado/Panko d. Bardwell/Karner, (11), 19, 2; Hamel/Tomasyan d. Abdulla/Godina, 16, 18.

Final on Sunday.

40 Doubles:

First Round: Mike Dunne/Rich Dunne (CA), bye; Armando Ortiz/Daniel Ortiz (CA) d. Ralph Fregoso/Martin Ferriter (CA/NV), 16, 16; Mark Zamora/Al Alvarez (CA) d. George Goodman/Ted Grammatica (MI), 6, 1; Mike McDonald/Lennart DeLaTorre (CA) bye.

Semifinals: Dunne/Dunne d. Ortiz/Ortiz, 6, 6; McDonald/DeLaTorre d. Alvarez/Zamora, 14, (7), 0.

Final on Sunday.

45 Doubles:

Round Robin Results:

William Cervantes/Tom Martinez (NM/CA) d. Nacho Veloz/Guillermo Pallares (TX), 13, 5.

Cervantes/Martinez d. Steve Chicarell/Terry Morris (CO/NV), 4, 7.

Rick Anderson/Jay Miller (MD) d. Nacho Veloz/Guillermo Pallares, 0, 6.; Chicarell/Morris, 6, 4.

First Place to be decided on Sunday.

50 Doubles:

First Round: Dave Dohman/Scott Rosenthal (IL) d. Mike Bonnell/Robert Camacho (AZ/CA), 12, 12; Rex Melton/Nick Bandak (CA) d. Steve Stanisich/Joel Crowley (NM/AZ), 14, 12; Dave Ramsey/Geraldo Garcia (CA) d. Octavio Martinez/Jesse Lopez (CA), (1), 14, 2; Lloyd Garcia/Mike Kearney (CO) d. Rubin Cabral/Sam Gonzalez (CA), 10, 1.

Semifinals: Dohman/Rosenthal d. Melton/Bandak, 7, 3; Garcia/Kearney d. Ramsey/Garcia, 12, 6.

Final on Sunday.

55 Doubles:

First Round: Tom Fitzwater/Danny Carrillo (CA) d. Chico Aguiar/Geoff Smyth (CA), 7, 8; Tim Murray/Bob Dyke (FL/VA) d. Rusty Seedborg/Mark Shelgren (NV/CA), 2, (13), 9; Mike Bock/Kelly Russell (CA) d. Jay Temple/Jon Roder (CO), 9, 7; Glenn Carden/Jim Spencer (WA) d. David Dains/Gabe Enriquez (CA), 4, 4.

Semifinals: Fitzwater/Carrillo d. Murray/Dyke, 6, 6; Bock/Russell d. Carden/Spencer, (13), 16, 7.

Final on Sunday.

60 Doubles:

First Round: Rich Polson/Dave Ackerman (CA) d. Fred Fischer/Mike Merman (CA), (16), 9, 5; George Garcia/Mike Owens (CA/TX) d. Jim Lowe/Rick Graham (MI), (8), 16, 8;  Jerry Jarrett/Bruce Lemmon (CA) d. Dave Rios/Rich Calkins (6, (15), 5.

Round of 16: Alan Sherrill/Jay Capell (CA) d. Ackerman/Polson, 9, 2; Greg Stansbury/Rob Nichols (CA) d. Bob Snyder/Dave Lindgren (VA/OR), 4, 8; Dave Morones/Nacho Lario (CA) d. Wayne Black/Sergio Galvez (CA), 11, 9; Vance McInnis/Ed Campbell (IL/CA) d. Rick Moldover/Mike Schaefer (NV), 3, 5; George Garcia/Mike Owen (CA/TX) d. Steve Housman/Lew Lambert (CA/CO), 14, 5; Dan Scilley/Russ Whitten (MT) d. Roberto Chavez/Ruben Ramirez (CA), 18, 15; Bruce Handelman/Bob Tutlewski (NV/IN) d. Steve Bauer/Greg Taylor (CO/MN), 6, 11; Terry Nett/John Hinkleman (CO/MD) d. Jerry Jarrett/Bruce Lemmon (CA), 18, (17), 5.

Quarterfinals: Sherrill/Capell d. Stansbury/Nichols, (12), 8, 4; McInnis/Campbell d. Morones/Lario, 7, 2; Scilley/Whitten d. Garcia/Owen, 14, 14; Nett/Hinkleman d. Handelman/Tutlewski, 19 (18), 3.

Semifinals: McInnis/Campbell d. Sherrill/Capell, 11, 16; Nett/Hinkleman d. Scilley/Whitten, 16, 12.

Final on Sunday.

65 Doubles:

First Round: Rich Robitaille/John Loretz (CA), bye; Jim Hartzell/Jim Smith (IA/CA) d. Larry Waldrop/Mike Kogan (CA), 14, 16; John Bailey/Ron Cole (KS/TX) d. Ernie Contreras/Luis Marquez (CA/CO), (12), 16, 4; John Nottingham/Noel Olshan (CA),  bye.

Semfinals: Smith/Hartzell d. Robitaille/Loretz, 6, (12), 6; Nottingham/Olshan d. Bailey/Cole, 9, 12.

Final on Sunday.

70 Doubles:

First Round: Jim Economides/Mike Driscoll (NM/TX) bye; Mike Miller/Ron Almadova (CA/NV) d. Chuck Davis/Ron Hauptman (CA), 8, 9; Bob Harris/Fred Chapman (NV/MT) d. Don Cooper/Jack McIntyre (NV), 10, 13; Ed Grossenbacher/Norm Young (OR/MI) d. Bill Fitzpatrick/Charlie Shoten (IL/NV), 4, 13.

Semifinals: Economides/Driscoll d. Miller/Almadova, 20, 8; Grossenbacher/Young d. Harris/Chapman, 7, 16.

Final on Sunday.

75 Doubles Round Robin:

Final Standings:

First: Bill Strawn/Jack Cherrington (KS/WA) d. Don Elwood/Dave Thoreson (CA), 20, 0; Lew Buckingham/Joe Lenhart (PA/CA), 19, 3; Walker/Rick DiFulvio (NV), 4, 5.

Second: Elwood/Thoreson d. Buckingham/Lenhart, (13), 12, 3; Walker/DiFulvio, 14, 20.

Third: Buckingham/Lenhart (PA/CA) d. Walker/DiFulvio, 12, 10.

Friday's report: LAS VEGAS -  Masters Doubles

We’re down to the semis at the Masters after a full day of play on Friday.  The two top seeds in the 60s both needed tiebreakers to advance, including the second day in a row for Terry Nett and Dave Hinkleman, who needed three games to oust host Bruce Handelman and Bob Tutlewski.  Defending national 60-plus champs Alan Sherrill and Jay Capell also needed three games to turn back Greg Stansbury and Rob Nichols. 

Co-host Joe Harris (setting in the photo against Adbulla) also met with a tiebreaker defeat but showed extremely well in the 35s with Manny Resendez, taking doubles stars Allie Abdulla and Paul Godina to a tiebreaker.

The Annual Royal Flush Doubles also got underway on Friday with the younger guys taking to the courts in skill level competitions. 

  Friday Masters Results:

First Round: Naty Alvarado Jr./Mike Panko (CA/WI) bye; Jim Bardwell/Jim Karner (TX/NM) d. Vern Roberts/Chris McDonald (AZ/CA), 9, 17; Allie Abdulla/Paul Godina (CA) d. Joe Harris/Manny Resendez (NV/CA), (18), 11, 7; Tyler Hamel/Greg Tomasyan (TX/CA) bye.

Semifinals on Sat.

40 Doubles:

First Round: Mike Dunne/Rich Dunne (CA), bye; Armando Ortiz/Daniel Ortiz (CA) d. Ralph Fregoso/Martin Ferriter (CA/NV), 16, 16; Mark Zamora/Al Alvarez (CA) d. George Goodman/Ted Grammatica (MI), 6, 1; Mike McDonald/Lennart DeLaTorre (CA) bye.

Semifinals on Sat.

45 Doubles:

Round Robin Results:

William Cervantes/Tom Martinez (NM/CA) d. Nacho Veloz/Guillermo Pallares (TX), 13, 5.

Cervantes/Martinez d. Steve Chicarell/Terry Morris (CO/NV), 4, 7.

Rick Anderson/Jay Miller (MD) d. Nacho Veloz/Guillermo Pallares, 0, 6.

50 Doubles:

First Round: Dave Dohman/Scott Rosenthal (IL) d. Mike Bonnell/Robert Camacho (AZ/CA), 12, 12; Rex Melton/Nick Bandak (CA) d. Steve Stanisich/Joel Crowley (NM/AZ), 14, 12; Dave Ramsey/Geraldo Garcia (CA) d. Octavio Martinez/Jesse Lopez (CA), (1), 14, 2; Lloyd Garcia/Mike Kearney (CO) d. Rubin Cabral/Sam Gonzalez (CA), 10, 1.

Semis on Sat.

55 Doubles:

First Round: Tom Fitzwater/Danny Carrillo (CA) d. Chico Aguiar/Geoff Smyth (CA), 7, 8; Tim Murray/Bob Dyke (FL/VA) d. Rusty Seedborg/Mark Shelgren (NV/CA), 2, (13), 9; Mike Bock/Kelly Russell (CA) d. Jay Temple/Jon Roder (CO), 9, 7; Glenn Carden/Jim Spencer (WA) d. David Dains/Gabe Enriquez (CA), 4, 4.

Semis on Sat.

60 Doubles:

First Round: Rich Polson/Dave Ackerman (CA) d. Fred Fischer/Mike Merman (CA), (16), 9, 5; George Garcia/Mike Owens (CA/TX) d. Jim Lowe/Rick Graham (MI), (8), 16, 8;  Jerry Jarrett/Bruce Lemmon (CA) d. Dave Rios/Rich Calkins (6, (15), 5.

Round of 16: Alan Sherrill/Jay Capell (CA) d. Ackerman/Polson, 9, 2; Greg Stansbury/Rob Nichols (CA) d. Bob Snyder/Dave Lindgren (VA/OR), 4, 8; Dave Morones/Nacho Lario (CA) d. Wayne Black/Sergio Galvez (CA), 11, 9; Vance McInnis/Ed Campbell (IL/CA) d. Rick Moldover/Mike Schaefer (NV), 3, 5; George Garcia/Mike Owen (CA/TX) d. Steve Housman/Lew Lambert (CA/CO), 14, 5; Dan Scilley/Russ Whitten (MT) d. Roberto Chavez/Ruben Ramirez (CA), 18, 15; Bruce Handelman/Bob Tutlewski (NV/IN) d. Steve Bauer/Greg Taylor (CO/MN), 6, 11; Terry Nett/John Hinkleman (CO/MD) d. Jerry Jarrett/Bruce Lemmon (CA), 18, (17), 5.

Quarterfinals: Sherrill/Capell d. Stansbury/Nichols, (12), 8, 4; McInnis/Campbell d. Morones/Lario, 7, 2; Scilley/Whitten d. Garcia/Owen, 14, 14; Nett/Hinkleman d. Handelman/Tutlewski, 19 (18), 3.

Semifinals on Sat.

65 Doubles:

First Round: Rich Robitaille/John Loretz (CA), bye; Jim Hartzell/Jim Smith (IA/CA) d. Larry Waldrop/Mike Kogan (CA), 14, 16; John Bailey/Ron Cole (KS/TX) d. Ernie Contreras/Luis Marquez (CA/CO), (12), 16, 4; John Nottingham/Noel Olshan (CA),  bye.

Semfinals on Sat.

70 Doubles:

First Round: Jim Economides/Mike Driscoll (NM/TX) bye; Mike Miller/Ron Almadova (CA/NV) d. Chuck Davis/Ron Hauptman (CA), 8, 9; Bob Harris/Fred Chapman (NV/MT) d. Don Cooper/Jack McIntyre (NV), 10, 13; Ed Grossenbacher/Norm Young (OR/MI) d. Bill Fitzpatrick/Charlie Shoten (IL/NV), 4, 13.

Semifinals on Sat.

75 Doubles Round Robin:

Thurs: Bill Strawn/Jack Cherrington (KS/WA) d. Don Elwood/Dave Thoreson (CA), 20, 0.

Lew Buckingham/Joe Lenhart (PA/CA) d. Johnnie Walker/Rick DiFulvio (NV), 12, 10.

Friday: Strawn/Cherrington d. Walker/DiFulvio, 4, 5.

Elwood/Thoreson d. Buckingham/Lenhart, (12), 13, 3.

Play got underway on Thursday as the USHA National Masters Doubles opened with the rounds of 16 in being played in all divisions as well as some round-robin play.  With players coming from near and far to enjoy the Las Vegas weekend, there were some new pairings. There were more wives in Las Vegas than the usual tournament and there were some new tips and questions: “How come he moves so well on the court but can’t pick up anything around the house?” said Connie McInnis. And, “Oh no, his bag doesn’t come in the house,” said Adelle Calkins of Rich’s gym bag’s odor.

Bob Snyder sets against Greg Stansbury in their 60 Doubles match.

The first two matches of the day went three games, showing the competitiveness of the fields. Later, the first upset came when former champs (with different partners) Steve Housman and Lew Lambert were taken out by Mike Owen and George Garcia in two games, 14, 5. The No. 2 seeds, Terry Nett and Dave Hinkleman survived a scare in the last match of the evening, turning back Jerry Jarrett and Bruce Lemmon in a tiebreaker.

Court time got tighter at the Las Vegas Athletic Club as one of the five courts had a glass panel broken a week ago and the special glass is still on order. Consolation play will take place at another LVAC facility, starting on Saturday. All events get underway Friday.

45 Doubles Round Robin Results:
William Cervantes/Tom Martinez (NM/CA) d. Nacho Veloz/Guillermo Pallares (TX), 13, 5.
 
60 Doubles:
First Round: Rich Polson/Dave Ackerman (CA) d. Fred Fischer/Mike Merman (CA), (16), 9, 5; George Garcia/Mike Owens (CA/TX) d. Jim Lowe/Rick Graham (MI), (8), 16, 8;  Jerry Jarrett/Bruce Lemmon (CA) d. Dave Rios/Rich Calkins (6, (15), 5.

Round of 16:  Alan Sherrill/Jay Capell (CA) d. Ackerman/Polson, 9, 2; Greg Stansbury/Rob Nichols (CA) d. Bob Snyder/Dave Lindgren (VA/OR), 4, 8; Dave Morones/Nacho Lario (CA) d. Wayne Black/Sergio Galvez (CA), 11, 9; Vance McInnis/Ed Campbell (IL/CA) d. Rick Moldover/Mike Schaefer (NV), 3, 5; George Garcia/Mike Owen (CA/TX) d. Steve Housman/Lew Lambert (CA/CO), 14, 5; Dan Scilley/Russ Whitten (MT) d. Roberto Chavez/Ruben Ramirez (CA), 18, 15; Bruce Handelman/Bob Tutlewski (NV/IN) d. Steve Bauer/Greg Taylor (CO/MN), 6, 11; Terry Nett/Dave Hinkleman (CO/MD) d. Jerry Jarrett/Bruce Lemmon (CA), 18 (17), 5.   

75 Doubles Round Robin:
Bill Strawn/Jack Cherrington (KS/WA) d. Don Elwood/Dave Thoreson (CA), 20, 0.; Lew Buckingham/Joe Lenhart (PA/CA) d. Johnnie Walker/Rick DiFulvio (NV), 12, 10. 

2009 USHA Masters Doubles Invitational & Royal Flush Doubles Draws

The 2009 USHA Masters Doubles Invitational & Royal Flush Doubles begins Thursday Feb. 5 at the Las Vegas Athletic Club.  The tentative draws for the Masters & the Royal Flush are posted below.  Good luck to all participants this weekend!

Click on each Division to view match-ups and start times. 

Attention:  Draws can be changed or updated up to the day of the event.  Please remember to verify your start time.