Burkley, Finger and Searle Take Top Tennis Honors
Over fifty tennis players competed this past Memorial Holiday weekend at St. George Tennis Academy’s first annual “Tonaquint Grand Slam” Tennis Challenge. Chris Burkley went through the “A” draw defeating five top players in route to capturing the Men’s Singles title. Burkley defeated Jeremy Atkin 3 – 2, 3 – 1, 3 – 1 in the finals. St. George Tennis Academy pro Tim Finger and partner Mike Searle won the “A” Men’s doubles title defeating Earl Morgan and Mark Manuele 3 – 2, 3 – 2, 3 – 0 in the final.
On the women’s side, up-and-coming tennis superstar Jade Frampton won the ladies singles title, defeating Marivic Morgan 3 – 2, 3 - 1 in an excellent final match. Morgan got revenge in the doubles as her and partner Jeanie Cerrito defeated Frampton and another St. George star achiever Allie Bergen 3 – 1, 3 – 2 in the “Fast Format” final. Bergen defeated Emily Kunzler 3 – 0, 3 – 0 to win the girl’s “B” singles championship.
Other winners included: Mike Schijf in the Boy’s “A” Singles over Jeff Chipman, 3 – 0, 1 – 3, 3 – 1; Carlos Morgan over Carrison Alger 3 – 2, 3 – 2 in the “B” Singles final; Heath Carr over Taylor Manuele 3 – 1, 3 – 0 in the “C” Draw. Randy Skalla of Colorado defeated St. George local Perry Christensen 3 – 0, 3 – 0 in the Men’s “B” final; Mike Schijf also defeated fellow junior Isaac Nelson 1 – 3, 3 – 1, 3 – 1 in an excellent “C” men’s singles final.
Alexis Graff won her first tennis tournament by defeating Diana Nelson 3 – 0, 3 – 1 in the girl’s “C” final.
In the “B” men’s doubles, Ryan Lakey and Dow Christiansen defeated Wayne and Greg Bullock, 3 – 2, 2 – 3, 3 – 2 in an exciting final. Jeff Chipman and Garrison Alger won the “C” doubles.
The Grand Slam capped off the Spring Super Saturday Series tennis events held every Saturday at Tonaquint Tennis Center in St. George. It also starts the summer season of tennis being presented by the St. George Tennis Academy and St. George Leisure Services. The Tonaquint Grand Slam featured the “Fast Format” play system developed by Richard Wigley; it allows for more matches, greater diversity of play, and a tournament that can be completed in less than two days.
Special thanks to Mike Searle and 1st Place Trophies of St. George for providing excellent awards; Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches for providing a tournament food social and gift certificates to all winners; Extreme Edge Graphix for awesome tee-shirts; and the Spectrum for printing the results.
Next event is the Super Saturday Summer Singles Event, at 10:30am on Saturday, May 31st. Cost is $5 per player. No registration required. For information, call Dave Smith at (435) 680-3250 or go to www.teachingtennis.com.
