The North American men’s rankings for the past season have been published and include 18 members of the MSRA. Further, we had Canadian and U.S. national champions last year as well as champions of some regional tournaments. But that was last year, and, as the saying goes, “what’ve you done for me lately?” Lately in this case is the upcoming doubles season.
Doubles players at the University and Harvard Clubs typically begin their season in late September, early October although there are many who intersperse their summer golf games with doubles sessions. Golf disappears with the onset of cool weather and the doubles season.
The first event used to be the Fall Foliage in Boston in late October. That tournament has been supplanted by the inaugural MacKay Memorial in Burlington, Ontario. It’s a little early for some, but Lee Spelke & Hank Shaw, ranked #’s 6-7 in the 70’s will probably go. Tom Poor, ranked #1 in the 60’s with Lenny Bernheimer, will go but without Lenny. The latter is recovering from shoulder surgery in July to repair his rotator cuff and will hopefully return by the Canadians in March. Filling in for Lenny will be Ralph Howe, a former national champion.
Montreal’s Smith Chapman is next in early November. Jamie Fagan, #61 in the 40’s, is a regular, sometimes with Scott Hartz who missed last year completely with a new work schedule. Joel Kozol, #3 in the 70’s, usually plays with a Canadian partner. The USSRA’s Doubles Committee is anxious to encourage more players to enter events such as this with reduced entry fees and accommodations. Jon Hyett, David Adams and Tyler Hill are all emerging players who fit this description. Other tournaments later in the year will do the same.
The first week-end in January is the setting for the McRory Doubles in Philadelphia. Mac Davidson, 50’s #5, and his Baltimore partner, Stan Dorney, are defending champions in the 50’s. Mac also has a new partner, Jon Ross, who together won the States’ 50’s last spring and may also appear in a national event. John Nimick, 45’s #13, may return to his hometown and Greg Zaff, 40’s #61, may also appear with fellow Williams graduate Tom Harrity. Nick Barquin, Open #97, may play as he did in the Nationals last year in the “A” division.
The Canadians are scheduled for early March in Toronto. Derrick Niederman & Sandy Tierney are defending champions in the 50’s as are Tom and Lenny in the 60’s. Lenny will hopefully have recovered from his shoulder surgery by this time. Chuck Kelly & Jim Young, #34 in the 60’s, will hopefully draw someone other than Poor & Bernheimer as they did last year in the quarters. Mat Sibble, 50’s #42, is available and spending more time in the doubles court than previous years.
The U.S. Nationals are the last week-end in March in St. Louis. Last year’s event in New York was a huge success, both in participation and financially. Many young players attended. Boston teams repeated in the 50’s and 60’s while Mary McKee and twin sister Berkeley Revenaugh fell two points short in the 5th of the Women’s final. Berkeley’s now in San Francisco with Ross, Open #52, but we still claim her as our own. Chipp Adams & Peter Gordon may appear as they’ve played in the past as has Ed Serues. Court Chilton, Tim’s, 70’s #24, son, is another candidate.
The biennial World Championships will be held in Toronto over the last week of April. In 2002, the MSRA sent 15 players with a great deal of success. There is a hint that defending 2004 Mixed champion and Open finalist Jessie Chai may emerge from retirement for another crack at this title. We expect that another large contingent from Boston will travel north again.
And then there are the States. Last year, 135 players entered seven divisions. Play begins in early March and ends on finals night, May 8, coinciding with the MSRA’s annual meeting. This tournament is the biggest of them all and is a fitting conclusion to a competitive, enjoyable and hopefully a very successful season.
