Sandy Tierney and his professional playing partner, Martin Heath, came out on top of 15 other pro-am teams in the University Club Pro-Am Doubles over the weekend of January 13-16, 2005.  Sandy has won this tournament several times before, hence it was a surprise when team matchmaker John Nimick assigned Scotland’s Martin Heath to him. Martin is new to doubles this year, but comes with a former top ten world singles ranking and plenty of squash experience. In the final they defeated last year’s winner, Malcolm Davidson and his partner, Toronto’s Tyler Millard, in four games highlighted by Sandy’s reverse corner. Tierney & Heath’s toughest test may have come in the semifinal where they defeated Jamie Fagan & Chris Derartnay (Toronto) in five close games. Their previous victories were a four game disposition of Jay Hirshberg & Doug Lifford (Boston) and a four game conquest of Doc Grossman & John Nimick (Boston) in the opening round. Lenny Bernheimer, playing with host club pro Chris Spahr, lost in the semi-finals for the fourth straight year in five games, this time to the Davidson-Millard duo.

The University Club Pro Doubles Championship and its sister tournament, the University Club Pro-Am Doubles Championship have become an important mid-January fixture on the ISDA Professional Doubles Tour.  With more than 50 patrons and16 players providing financial support to the event, the professionals competed for in excess of $25,000 in prize money.  In addition, the level of play in both the pro event and the pro-am tournament bring out sizeable galleries throughout the weekend.  The pro final, held on Monday, January 17, featured the new team of Preston Quick & Ben Gould, winners over last year’s champions Berg & McDonald, against the #1 ISDA team of Gary Waite & Damien Mudge. After splitting the first two games, Waite & Mudge squeezed out the third, 18-17, and marched through the fourth to claim the Boston title once again.

In the North Draw, featuring teams that won their first match, but lost in the second round of the main draw, Matthew Kozol and Michael Pirnak (Toronto) won by a point in the fifth over the Hirshberg-Lifford team. John Connolly & Ben Gould (Wilmington) suffered a one point, fifth game loss to Davidson & Millard in the main draw, but recovered to oust Dave Riccio & James Hewitt (Toronto) in four, then went another five games to defeat Kozol & Pirnak in the final. John is the current State 50’s champion (with Tierney) and has smoothly adapted to doubles.

In the West Draw, featuring first round losers, Dave Dali & Alex Pavulans (New York) overcame their initial loss to Kozol & Pirnak by posting three consecutive victories:  first, over Janie Coolidge & Gary Waite (Toronto) in a three game match that saw narrow 15-14, 15-13 scores in the last two. Their second was another competitive match, this time with Jim Bildner who last year snapped his Achilles tendon playing Dali and his partner, and Josh McDonald (New York). This four game win was a prelude to Sunday’s comparatively easy win over Bruce Shulman & Damien Mudge (New York). Bruce & Damien had arrived in the finals with a three game victory over Marty Stocklan & Pat Malloy.

In the South Draw, Steve Wolfe, he of the resplendent pink warm-up suit last year, suffered the tournament’s only injury when he twisted his knee in a first round loss to Riccio-Hewitt. Tom Poor substituted with Viktor Berg and promptly lost to Stocklan & Malloy in the West Draw, decimated by Marty’s reverse corners at critical points. Poor & Berg then defeated Joel Kozol & Preston Quick (Denver) in three and narrowly survived Coolidge & Waite in the final.

And now, for this year's awards:

    Rookie of the Year: Marty Stocklan - for pulling out some amazing shots at crucial times.

    Runner-up Rookie: Bruce Shulman - defeated Marty in the semis of the West draw.

    Most Underrated: Dave Dali - who flies below the radar each year and keeps winning.

    Most Overrated: Sandy Tierney - of course. Why do we keep giving him great partners?

    Most Improved: Matthew Kozol - two years ago, he could hardly hit a ball; now he's returning           bullets.

    Most Frustrated: Lenny Bernheimer - has now lost 5 game semi matches four years in a row.

    Luckiest: Mac Davidson - wins every match in five games, even borrowing my racquet.

    Most Misguided: Steve Wolfe - continues to talk more about his last year's pink outfit than his squash game.

    Most Fashionable: Jim Bildner - no socks, crumpled shorts and uncombed hair.

    Biggest Sleeper: John Connolly - Singles, yes, but this good in doubles?

    Biggest Flamer: Doc Grossman - locked Pirnak out of the condo Saturday night; Pirnak ended up sleeping on Millard's floor.

    Most Expressionless: Jay Hirshberg - can't tell if he won or lost the point, game or match.

    Gentlest: Janie Coolidge - always blames herself when it was Waite's fault.

    Most Picked On: Jamie Fagan - In the 5th game vs Tierney-Heath, Jamie saw every ball.

    Most Encumbered: Dave Riccio - tried to play with a 5-pound silver necklace.

    Grandest Patron of them All: Joel - whose grandchildren saw a sight they'll remember to tell their own grandchildren about.

As the finishing touches are put on the final draw memorializing the 2005 Pro-Am Doubles event in anticipation of its prominent display beside the University Club Doubles Court, entries are already being submitted for the 2006 Championship.   

Link to photos