GLEN ARBOR OPEN FEATURED INTENSE, ENTERTAINING TENNIS

By Darryl Lick
Sun sports writer
When four diverse local organizations work together to benefit our area people and visitors, and produce THE athletic and social event of the summer, it is well worth mentioning. Such was the success of the 2002 Glen Arbor Tennis Open, held on July 27 and 28.

Those organizations (rarely mentioned in the same sentence) include The Glen Lake Yacht Club, The Leelanau School, Glen Arbor Township and The Homestead. With almost 70 players involved in three different divisions, the biggest problem is always tennis court availability. Thankfully, all these organizations offered courts, which allowed tournament directors to hold their biggest tourney ever.
Eight o’clock on Saturday morning couldn’t come early enough for most of the competitors in the tournament as director Jim Buck welcomed all the entries. Not only does the size of the tournament increase almost every year, but the quality of play is amazing, as witnessed by hundreds of fans, family members and friends that stopped by top watch on a hot and humid day.
This year’s tournament consisted of a 16-team Men’s Doubles division, a 13-team Mixed Doubles event and, new this year, four teams playing in the Junior Mixed Doubles.
The Men’s Doubles draw featured some of the most entertaining tennis seen this side of Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe. When local legends like Paul Kokowicz, Alan Reed and Bob Sutherland are involved, there are fireworks everywhere. When everything shook out, Glen Lake tennis coach Mike Sutherland and former college player Mark Midgely defeated Homestead pro Tim Buck and Glen Lake Yacht Club pro Tim Sutherland in a hotly contested (imagine that! –Ed.) semifinal, 6-3, 6-4. The other semifinal featured a 6-2, 6-2 victory for Jim Buck Sr. and Jim Buck Jr. over the father-son team of Rich and Mike Schonhols. An arm injury to father Rich contributed to this outcome.
In a well-played final on the clay courts at The Homestead, Sutherland and Midgely prevailed 7-5, 6-3 over Buck & Buck. Tournament umpire Tim Sutherland complimented the players on their quality tennis on a swelteringly hot day.
With Justine Buck making her tournament debut all the way from Vero Beach, Florida alongside her husband Jim, playing local legends Betsy Netherton and Mike Sutherland, the mixed doubles final made for some lively, exciting action. Sutherland and Netherton defended their title with an 8-4 victory, also on The Homestead’s clay.
The Junior Mixed Doubles was a new event this year and a huge success. In a well-played final, Jen MacKenzie and Paul Finnegan defeated Caroline Martin and Reed Pierce, 8-5.
Tournament directors want to thank sponsors Western Avenue Grill, Le Bear and Cherry Republic for their prize donations. All proceeds from the tournament go to the Glen Lake High School tennis program, 2001 Regional Champions.