Salokas and Young Continue Streak at Long Beach Open
For the second time in two weeks, Marty “Kid Kodiac” Salokas and Donny “The Golden Bullet” Young (Hermosa Beach,CA) defeated their Hermosa Beach brethren Joe Testa and Billy Lambon (Hermosa Beach, CA), with a fierce 8-6 victory at the Beach Tennis USA Long Beach Open. The struggle for momentum was pendulous as both team traded for points up till the sixth game, when Salokas and Young surged ahead after a heated line dispute that went against them. The victory puts them securely in the points series lead over Phil Whitesell and Chris Henderson of Charleston, SC, who they will do doubt face at the 2009 BTUSA National Championship, in Long Beach, NY, on Labor Day Weekend.
In the Women’s Pro division, Team Matchpoint—Joslyn Burkett and Lee Whitwell (San Diego, CA) defeated Renee Brigden and Jessica Baker (Hermosa Beach, CA) 8-3, to take their first BTUSA title. For Burkett and Whitwell, it was their third trip to the finals and the first time they didn’t have to face the Maloney Sisters—Lisa and Laura in Pro competition.
Alyssa Freeman and Jennifer Peterson (Long Beach, NY) made the cross-county trek to take the Amateur trophy during day one competition. The pair then competed in day two Pro division action, clawing their way to the Semifinals in their first Pro event.
The Beach Tennis USA National Tour will head back East to Charleston, South Carolina on August 22-23 and conclude in Long Beach, NY at the 2009 BTUSA National Championship.
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