By Tom Poor
Came Amrit Kanwal, not exactly a rookie (playing in his third Pro-Am), but not really considered a threat, given the strength of this year’s draw. Playing well above his head and helped a bit by Ben Gould, the #1 professional, Amrit won all four of his matches in five games, including dispatching top seed Sandy Tierney, thereby earning an all-expense paid week-end in Sea Island, Georgia, and a spot in the season finale Pro-Am tournament. No one has ever doubted Amrit’s competitive fire, but no one save perhaps his wife Sarah believed at the outset he would be able to withstand the continual barrage of shots coming his way. But in the final against Malcolm Davidson & Greg Park (Philadelphia), Amrit did not weaken, and they survived three one point games to win the most exciting Pro-Am yet.
The Putnam Pro-Am Doubles, with a Pro and Pro-Am division, was staged over the second week-end in January. For the third year Putnam Investments was the title sponsor, using their marketing department to take full advantage of the opportunity with signage, publicity and very attractive green monogrammed shirts included in packages for amateurs and patrons. Associate sponsorship was provided by Joe Cortes’ Tatleaux De Pera Funds, a company specializing in environmental products. The University Club again shone as the host of dinner on Friday, a Sunday brunch and all the creature comforts fitting for professional athletes at the top of their field.
The Pro Doubles Championship and its accompanying tournament, the Pro-Am Doubles Championship, is a mid-January fixture on the newly formed SDA Professional Doubles Tour. With Putnam, Tatleaux, 73 patrons and 20 amateur players providing financial support for the event, the professionals competed in a mini Pro-Am for Super patrons and in both divisions for over $35,000 in prize money. A chance to see the top professionals in the world brought out standing room only galleries throughout the weekend. The professionals’ power, speed afoot and stunning shots were the stuff of wishful thinking for the rest of us. The finals of both tournaments were played on Sunday with five Pro-Am finals followed by the Professional final. The latter was a riveting 2+ hour match featuring precise shots, remarkable lobs and judicious power, finally decided in a 15-13 fifth game upset victory for Clive Leach (New York) and Paul Price (Toronto) over top seeded Damien Mudge & Ben Gould (both New York). When the final ball was called out, the gallery rose in a prolonged standing ovation.
East Draw: Champions – Ben Gould (New York) & Amrit Kanwal; Malcolm Davidson & Greg Park (Philadelphia)
The five Pro-Am draws were contentious, particularly the East Draw where Amrit & Ben moved precariously ahead with five game victories in each round. They opened with a win over Morgan Poor, the Milton varsity coach, and home pro Dan Roberts (Boston), then the upset of Sandy Tierney & Fred Reid (Toronto) who themselves had survived a five game opening round tussle with Bill Keravuori & Matt Jenson (Charleston). Awaiting them in the semi-finals were rookie Jon Hyett & Will Mariani (Toronto), incredible victors in their previous two matches by identical 15-14 fifth games. In the opening round they defeated Charlie Humber & Ian Power, then Jamie Fagan & Imran Khan (Philadelphia). Their luck run out against Kanwal & Gould as Jon’s right arm seemed to feel the effect of 15 games in a 24 hour span.
Meanwhile Mac Davidson & Greg Park were having a much easier time of it in the lower half. They opened by smothering Tom Poor & Hamed Anvari (New York) in three, then dropped a game to Chris O’Brien & Graham Bassett (Greenwich) before hammering them in the next three. In the semifinals, they met the surprise team of Joe Duffey, another rookie, & Clive Leach, winners in five first over Mathur Manek (Rye) & Jim Bildner, then upset victors over second seeded Scott Poirier & Greg McArthur (Greenwich) by one point in the fifth. Joe later admitted his conditioning was not quite up to snuff as Mac & Greg thrashed them in three easy games. So, they were cruising into Sunday’s final where, as mentioned, Amrit concluded the tournament of a lifetime.
Interest in this year’s Pro-Am was the highest ever, resulting in 20 amateurs and necessitating four matches in the round of 32. Yvain Badan (New Canaan) & John Brazilian, fully recovered from injuries, ran into immediate trouble against Matt Jenson & Bobby Harkins, substituting for flu-ridden Louie Crosier, and lost in four. Joe Cortes & Carl Baglio (New York) then fell to Charlie Humber, one of five rookies, & Ian Power in three tight games. Next, Preston Quick & John Hailer squeezed past Jonny Smith & Steve Quigley, president of the local Independent Newspaper Group, in four with two one point games. Finally, Paul Price & Errin Siagel, Club president, prevailed over former Yale professor and senior national champion Ted Marmor (yet still a rookie here) & Damien Mudge in four games.
Northeast Draw: Finalists – Damien Mudge (New York) & Ted Marmor; Champions – Carl Baglio (New York) and Nick Sisodia
Those first round losers squared off in the Northeast Draw. Joe Cortes’ daughter is captain of the Princeton team, necessitating a Saturday trip to New Jersey, hence he was done for the week-end. His substitute, Nick Sisodia, is a new Club member and superb singles player. His doubles isn’t bad either as he and Carl got by the Brazilian-Badan duo in five, then defeated Mudge & Marmor, a four game winner over Smith & Quigley, in four games. John Brazilian then teamed with Tom Brinkman (Toronto), subbing for an injured Badan, to take third place, coming back from two games down to win in five.
West Draw: Finalists – Paul Price (Toronto) & Errin Siagel; Champions – Charlie Humber & Ian Power (Toronto)
The West draw was the destination of those teams vanquished in the round of 16. Matt Jenson, now in Charleston where he plays with former Club standout Derrick Niederman, teamed with Greg Collins, another substitute for Louie Crosier, to play Morgan & Dan. Greg has not played much this season and was forced to retire with an ankle injury midway in the fourth game. Charlie Humber, also a rookie, and Ian combined to eliminate Lenny & Chris Walker in five. Poor & Anvari took advantage of John Hailer’s heavy travel and light squash schedule to win in five while Price & Siagel won another five gamer over Mathur & Bildner. In two five game semis, Humber & Power ended the Morgan Poor-Roberts journey while Price & Siagel delivered the same fate to Morgan’s dad Tom & Anvari. The final win for Humber-Power was not as tight as other matches. Charlie Humber easily earned the Iron Man crown for the most grueling tournament as he won five matches, played 22 games and ended with numerous scrapes and ice packs – then he said he was a definite for next year!
Southwest Draw: Finalists – Mathur Manek (Rye) & Steve Neumeier; Champions – Lenny Bernheimer & Chris Walker (Greenwich)
Those teams that exited the West draw in their first matches were not done. They moved to the Southwest draw semi-finals where finally a Crosier arrived to pair with Matt Jenson – no. Louie did not arise from the flu bug but his better half Hope, a State champion several times over, was ready. They lost a tight 1513 fifth game to Lenny & Chris which gave the latter enough momentum to win the final in five over Mathur & Steve Neumeier, filling in for Jim Bildner, thus bringing into even further question Jim’s claim that he has played every Pro-Am event. Unfinished tournaments hardly count!
Southeast Draw: Finalists – Greg McArthur (Greenwich) & Scott Poirier; Champions – Sandy Tierney & Fref Reid (Toronto)
This year’s event was especially successful with Putnam’s presence, the addition of five rookie amateurs, spirited play and full galleries supplemented by a delicious dinner Friday evening and brunch Sunday. The Pro-Am has increased the interest in doubles in general and in particular, afforded all the chance to see great athletes (the professionals!) in action. The new doubles league enters its second season which along with events such as this has spurred doubles at the University Club and Boston in general. The States, which begin in early March, will provide wide ranging competition for close to 200 players this spring, an indication that doubles has come a long way in Boston.