Defending Satellite league champion repeats

What could be better than winning a first women's doubles league championship?

Capturing a second one.

Feather Sound Country Club, first-time winner of the Satellite Ladies Doubles League last year, responded to competition by outscoring the 12 other teams for a second title.

"We have a really strong team and played well together this year," Feather Sound captain Robyn Williams said. "We play a lot among ourselves at the club, which I think really helped."

Last year, Feather Sound edged Innisbrook by three points. This season, Feather Sound collected 332 points and Innisbrook earned 301. Third-place Racquet Club scored 296.

Feather Sound lost a 9-8 showdown with the Racquet Club and an 11-7 match to Innisbrook. Feather Sound avenged both losses.

Leading Feather Sound was Terry Connors and Jan Cox (No. 1), Martha Wells and Donna Dilonardo, Susan Powers and Debbie Komarnicki, and Jane Gordon and Sue Bedore.

Terry Hubener and DeDe Natalie defended the No. 5 position, followed by Karen Augustine and Marilyn Quackenbush, Williams and Ann Thompson, and Katie Chappell and Pearl Schultz.

Williams and Thompson were undefeated in the 26-week league.

Feather Sound players realized they were pulling ahead of the competition at the midway point when the team had scored 168 points to the Racquet Club's 153 and Innisbrook's 147.

"After that point, everyone was checking to see what the numbers were," Williams said.

Feather Sound will receive its award Tuesday. The remaining placements were Bardmoor Smashers No. 4, East Lake Woodlands No. 5, Countryside Strings No. 6, Vinoy Victors and Vinoy Aces tied for No. 7, Countryside Racquets No. 8, Bardmoor Spinners No. 9, Seminole Lake Tennis Center No. 10, Treasure Island No. 11 and St. Petersburg Country Club No. 12.

MORE CHAMPIONS: Bardmoor collected an unprecedented three women's doubles league titles this year. A Bardmoor team won the Suncoast Ladies Doubles League among 14 squads, Pinellas Area Doubles League among 26 and Racqueteers among 16.

STATE MIXED DOUBLES: Two area adult teams were among last weekend's 54 competitors in the USA Tennis Florida State Tournament. While Bardmoor's 7.5 squad struggled in its flight, McMullen's 8.5 team reached the final four on a wild-card entry after finishing second in its flight of five squads. McMullen reached the championship but fell 2-1 to Panama City, the team that served McMullen its only loss in flight competition.

USA LEAGUE: A tie between Feather Sound and Bardmoor in the women's 3.5 Blue division remains with a split decision in Saturday's match. Tied at 2, the fifth and deciding match in the No. 3 position will be this week.

TI DOUBLES WINNERS: Frank Struchen and Craig Broome teamed to defeat Tony Riggiero and Tom Grayson 3-6, 7-6, 6-2 in the open division of the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club Spring Championships. Jay Kienast and Ed Setaro won 4.0, and Bill Hadley and George Gessler took 3.5. In the only women's division, Ann Worthington and Susan Hobbs won 4.0.

NET NOTES: St. Petersburg Tennis Center continues its Monday-Friday Grassroots Tennis and Education Program, 3-6 p.m., for youths 7-17. Funded by the Tennis Foundation of St. Petersburg and the U.S. Tennis Association's First Serve Initiative, the program is free to those who qualify for free school lunches. The center's Rick Crockett, director, coordinates activities with head professional Doug Woods and volunteer coach/director Paul Thompson. For information, call 823-2225. ... Reaching the quarterfinal round in the Gator Bowl Junior Tennis Championships in Ponte Vedra Beach were area players Alexandra Cercone (girls 12-and-under), Sukhwa Young and Ryler DeHeart (boys 18), and Marc Spicijaric (16). Christina Liles was a girls 14 finalist. ... Emily Dvorak advanced to the girls 10 final in last weekend's Junior Clay Court Championships at Hunters Green Country Club.

COMING UP: The South Pinellas Ladies Doubles League begins Tuesday. The men start May 11. To enter a team, call 867-9105. ... The Racquet Club of St. Petersburg will play host to Florida's only qualifying event for the Little Mo Tournament. The qualifier is May 11-13. The Little Mo is the only national tourney for girls and boys 8-11. Call 527-6553. ... The Clay Court Championships are May 11-13 at Arbor Greene Fitness and Athletic Club. Men's and women's age-division singles and doubles and mixed doubles are available. Call (813) 962-4253. ... A mixed doubles tourney is May 18-19 at Isla Del Sol Golf and Country Club. NTRP levels 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 will be scheduled, with a consolation for first-round losers. Call 906-ISLA. ... A Suncoast Singles League for women at 3.5-and-below is forming. Call 585-9221.

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