BEGA junior tennis player Paul Warren showed his potential, winning a three-set match over Mark Anderson for the LJ Hooker Bega open men’s title.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Warren came from behind to overpower Anderson, after the first set went against him 6-3.
Organisers said Anderson looked solid on the night with accurate serves and some powerful ground shots.
Warren wasn’t phased by the early display and lifted the tempo with the pair battling out points over long rallies.
Warren’s pace and ability at the net provided him a strong stance to run away with the final two sets 6-2 , 6-3.
Warren had cleared the semi-finals with a 6-1, 6-3 win over David Foster.
Anderson had a tougher test against Bob Warren, wining in three sets 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.
Paul and Bob combined in the doubles competition, forming a powerhouse team.
They took out the open men’s doubles with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Anderson and David Faulkner.
Anderson and Faulkner had a three-set win over Foster and Geoff Metzler to earn a spot in the final, but fell short of the challenge from the Warren boys.
Organisers said there was a lack of entries in the open women’s division, but were pleased with the solid numbers in graded events.
It was a family affair in the men’s B grade final as Jeff Kelly took on nephew Cael in the final.
Jeff’s experience saw him enter the match as favourite, but Cael was consistent throughout the match to overcome the challenge.
Cael dropped the first set, but rallied his efforts to win the next two 5-7, 7-6, 6-2.
Cael and Jeff combined in the B grade men’s doubles and again the family bond proved strong.
The pair booked a spot in the final after overcoming Paul and Luke Walters 6-3, 6-2.
Their rivals were Malcolm Clune and Sam Johnston, who had a 6-2, 6-2 win over Pat McMahon and Stuart Meyers.
Organisers expected close results in the final and were not disappointed.
Clune and Johnston took out the first set, but the Kelly duo proved too consistent, winning the next two 6-2, 6-3.
Doubles matches were hotly contested in the women’s with strong B and C grade entries.
Melonie Lockerbie and Megan Brens combined well to claim a spot in the B grade final.
The pair narrowly won in two sets over sisters Marsha Smith and Susan Bassett.
The second semi-final was a tougher-fought match, going to three sets.
Vicki Marks and Melinda Armstrong advanced to the final after winning over Kim and Brydie Tarlinton 7-6, 6-7, 6-1.
The final also produced some excellent tennis, but Lockerbie and Brens were able to come away with the win in three sets.
In the C grade, the doubles was won by Sharon Ubrihien and Stephanie Symons 7-6, 6-2 over Michelle Jones and Tanya Keys.
Ubrihien and Symonds had advanced after knocking out Hannah Mullens and Lily Brown in the semi-final.
Meanwhile, Jones and Keys had progressed from a dominant showing over Allyson and Rebecca Johnston.
The Bega Tennis Club thanked LJ Hooker for its ongoing support and Brian Richards for coordinating the championships.