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69436_NWSLTR 6/19/06 2:37 PM Page 1 SENIOR www.scta.usta.com SouthernS CaliforniaCT TennisA Association news DECEMBER 2005 Mark Winters Photos: Pat Parsons t is probably safe to say that winning a happen again.” national championship is a goal of every Playing his first year in the Men’s 70s, Icompetitive player, because doing so and never having played the clay court makes an individual the best in his/her age nationals because, with his serve and vol- group on a particular surface. Winning all ley style, “it was a waste of time,” Davis four championships in a year, “slamming” if decided to give it a go. “I thought I might you will, is an extraordinary achievement. as well do it once,” he said. “I move as This year, a collection of performers well as anyone in the 70s, but no one went beyond extraordinary. Gordon Davis, could believe I could serve and volley on Dorothy Matthiessen, Lenny Lindborg and clay. I did, and my opponents didn’t know Jim Nelson owned the national 70s. To- what to do with me.” gether,they claimed the clay,grass,hard Lindborg and Nelson also made their court and indoor championships. 70s debuts. Unlike Davis, they had Grand They ran the table. While Bob Slammed before, taking both the Men’s 55 Sherman, who won his 100th and 101st and 65 doubles. Because of a long-standing national championships during the agreement with other partners, the duo summer, was often a four surface men’s only plays together nationally every five winner, and Dodo Chaney picked up both years. “The first year in an age group; it’s the singles and doubles in the same age always our goal,” Lindborg said of their four group, no one can gold ball run. remember when a This year it was a section last won all good deal more dif- Dorothy Matthiessen ficult than it had been in the past. make much of playing hurt. When prod- Nelson offered, ded he finally said, “I told him I thought I “Lenny is a warrior. was going to quit in the semifinals of the His right Achilles clay courts. I think I hurt it at the hard tendon gave him courts, jumping for an overhead. I couldn’t problems. It looks go back and push off after that. I tried lay- like it is unraveling.” ing off for a week. That’s a long time for “Dr.” Nelson con- me,but it didn’t do much.I finally learned tinued, “He has two how to tape it. I know what hurts, so I artificial knees. Both figured I had to lift my heel up.” the gold balls avail- were replaced on Matthiessen did more than duplicate able in a division 9/11, which is some- her Women’s 65 success of a year ago; she during a year. thing he will never captured each of the Women’s 70 singles in “I astounded forget. He is always her division debut, along with each of the myself,” Davis admit- in pain.” doubles. “I have won three nationals ted. “I never thought Lindborg being before, but until last year, I had never I’d do it. It will never Gordon Davis played and thought his way to four titles. Lindborg doesn’t (continued on next page) 69436_NWSLTR 6/19/06 2:37 PM Page 2 www.scta.usta.com ◗ “I wasn’t planning to play all four last year, but John (her husband) said I should do it. This year he said since it was my first in the 70s, I should play them all again. It makes more sense to do so in your first year.” ◗ played all four championships,” said Matthiessen, who has a thriving interior design business. “I have never had the Lenny Lindborg Jim Nelson time. I have obligations to my husband, children and grandchildren.” “He’s the chief. I tell him to keep coming The grass and clay court doubles finals She added, “I wasn’t planning to play all in because no one is better at the net.” were also three setters. “Those were our four last year, but John (her husband) said Ida Cowan and Burnette Herrick of toughest matches, but we found a way to I should do it. This year he said since it was Brooklyn, New York provided Matthiessen win,” she said. my first in the 70s, I should play them all with singles tests. “She has a statuesque In a March 2005 Senior News story again. It makes more sense to do so in bearing and a game like you would picture about the five desert tournaments that your first year.” Mary Pierce having at 70,” Matthiessen opened the year’s competition, Lindborg “Actually, it was a matter of confessed, “The hardest everyone’s schedule,” Matthiessen, thing for me to say most of who played with three different my life was ‘I love you.’ doubles partners, said. She won Now, it’s, ‘I’m in the 70s.” the hard and grass courts with Others have a different Belmar Gunderson of Geneva, take on aging. “Last year, I Florida. Mary Boswell of Damascus, wasn’t as age conscious” Maryland was her indoor partner, Matthiessen said. “This year, and she teamed with Boots Van I’m appreciating being in Nostrand of Vero Beach, Florida at the 70s.” the clay court event. “We all get Looking ahead, beside along well,” she continued. “It was upping his fee from “$1,000 usually a question of who was to $1,500 in cash”to play available.” with Nelson every five Winning is an equation involv- years, Lindborg was anxious ing many variables. “I never to run their 2005 win streak thought I would do it,” Davis said. to six straight at the Pacific “At the same time, I had a lot of Southwest (which they did), luck. I was fortunate, I didn’t have “I hate laying off. I will get the strongest draws, but I got some therapy and see what through.” said of her grass court contest with happens. We all hurt somewhere.” Lindborg/Nelson, after losing the first Herrick. “She came out hitting the lines; Matthiessen closed things out saying, set, clawed their way through two, 7-5 hitting winners. I said to myself, ‘What am “I certainly aim to remain fit. That’s a big third set victories over Richard Doss/John I going to do about this?’ Fortunately,after thing at my age. It’s a lot of fun to feel Powless in the clay and hard court finals. the first set, I played a little better and you are running and enjoying the physi- “Jim played really well,” Lindborg said. she played a little worse.” cality of playing.” 2 69436_NWSLTR 6/19/06 2:38 PM Page 3 www.scta.usta.com Tina Karwasky Photos: Brad Sceney fter organizing, pro- raising activities included a moting and running silent auction, a tennis cloth- Athe Senior Women’s ing rummage sale, and mer- Classic, a Category II event, chandise sales by various for the past 12 years, Linda vendors who donated a por- Stude will no longer be the tion of the profits to the driving force behind the tour- YWCA. As a result, the nament. This year’s event was YWCA will receive at least her farewell. $11,000.” “We were fortunate to It paid to enter the tourna- land Nestle’s Coffee-mate as ment early because an “early presenting sponsor,” Stude Women’s 80 doubles finalists Eleanor Harbula/Jean Harris bird prize” (those entries said. “This made it possible to and winners Cathie Hall/Marion Tyrell postmarked by September increase prize money from 19 th, two weeks before the $2,500 to $4,000. Winners actual deadline) was offered. and finalists in events with Yuriko Knoblich was the win- eight or more entries benefit- ner, and walked off with a case ed. Additionally, Nate Butcher of tennis balls. (‘Real Estate Nate’) of Keller Tournament Director Williams VIP Properties in Brad Sceney and the Paseo Valencia provided major sup- Club Tournament Commit- port as a Gold Level Sponsor. tee, including Susan Amico, Beside the increase in prize Dana Cuccia, Wendy Fleming, money, the increased backing Kathy Goodman and Seleste enabled the event to put on a Women’s 40 doubles winners Sally Becker/Shelly Stillman-Scott Sakato, worked with Stude to free Friday evening wine tast- and finalists Anne Kellogg/Teri Lynott make sure this year’s tourna- ing reception, and purchase ment was memorable. great commemorative tote bags filled with Sceney will take the reins, goodies for every player in the event. but Stude, who will now have an oppor- Winners received an embroidered fleece tunity to spend more time with her hus- vest and finalists, an embroidered fleece band Carl at their vacation home in the blanket.” mountains, will always be remembered for Stude has been a tireless advocate of the the superb job she did, making the Senior tournament, often calling on, (recruiting says Women’s Classic the tournament every- it better), the best senior women to par- one looks forward to playing. ticipate. Her spirit carried the champi- From us all – Thanks Linda. Women’s 45 singles winner Jane Pascoe and finalist Lori Robertson onship from infancy to the big time – Category II status. Each year, the Senior Women’s Classic has grown, thanks to her efforts. Given her commitment, it is easy to see why she is known for being 24/7 involved. “The event has been a fund- raiser for the YWCA of Glendale’s EncorePlus Program,” Stude said.

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