Birk, Broome, Pounders and Wise Play In The Rosemary Beach NTRP Classic September 2009By Scott Harrison
As if there wasn't enough tennis going on in the area, four Pensacola players traveled to Rosemary Beach for the Rosemary Beach NTRP Classic. The Rosemary Beach Racquet Club is on the far west end of Panama City Beach. Julie Birk, Craig Broome, Rick Pounders and Whit Wise played in the event.
Broome was the 3rd seed in the Men's 4.5 singles. He had a bye, beat Shalimar's Ben White 6-1,7-6 but fell 6-2,6-3 in the semifinals to top seeded Tim Poloronis of Appalachicola.
Broome teamed with Enterprise, Al's John Pittman in the Men's 4.5 doubles. They were the #2 seeds and had a bye but were upset in the second round 6-4,6-2 by Mike Manley and Bob Sombathy of Lynn Haven. Broome and Pittman won two matches in the consolation including a 6-1,6-4 victory over James Clauson and Lyle Sandquist of Santa Rosa Beach.
Whit Wise and Rick Pounders wound up runners-up in the Men's 4.0 division. They downed Russ Cude (Lynn Haven) and Greg Hunsicker (Youngstown) 6-2,6-1. In the semifinals they whipped Mike Aqcanas and Aaron Gibney of Panama City 6-2,6-0. Don Brown (Lynn Haven) and Ronny Goodson (Panama City) took the title from the locals 6-4,6-4.
In the 8.5 Mixed doubles, locals Julie Birk and Whit Wise got a very tough draw. They face top seeded Fawn Cougot (Destin) and Eric Stern (Niceville) in their opening match falling 6-2,6-1. The draw wasn't any easier in the consolation match when they lost to Dothan's David Lefebvre and Panama City's Anita Lewis 6-2,6-3.
Rosemary hosts two adult tourneys a year and they are growing larger and larger by the year. Head pro Mike Clarke does an excellent job in hosting the events.