Tennis enthusiasts flocked to the Country Club of Landfall to watch world-renowned tennis players engage in competitive exhibition matches Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19.
The two-day event raised more than $20,000 for the Landfall Foundation, a volunteer-run organization that distributes funds to local nonprofits that support health, education and arts initiatives.
Charlie Owens, the country club’s tennis director, said this year’s annual tournament was likely the most successful one yet.
Owens also said the singles match between 2008 Olympian James Blake and nationally ranked singles player Bobby Reynolds was the tournament’s headlining game, won by Blake.
“Not only are they playing hard, but they’re entertaining at the same time. The outcome is not the main issue, but James won the match. It was an amazing exhibition of his foot speed and fabulous forehand,” Owens said.
The event also included tennis clinics available to sponsors and to a group of children from the Brigade Boys and Girls Club led by the legendary tennis players.
“The kids had a blast. They got to meet the pros and they got exposed to tennis,” Owens said. The kids’ clinic was sponsored by the Currie Garner family.
Four hundred people filled all available seating for both days of the tournament. A day ticket sold for $25 and four-person marquis tables were available for $600 each. Thirty sponsor-level tables were also available. The Currie Garner family and Bob King Autohaus were lead sponsors.
During the event’s raffle, two attendees’ names were drawn out of a hat to partake in a 60-second challenge on the tennis court that involved tossing balls into small baskets. Matt Shars beat his opponent 34-31 and won a tennis racket. A second raffle drawing awarded a ticket to one of the tennis clinics. Each raffle raised $1,000.
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