More than thirty Landings Club picklers ventured off island for the Dink 4 Pink pickleball tournament at the Savannah Golf Club. The three-day tournament, which began on October 6th, helped kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to Jaylen Silvers, head pickleball professional at Savannah Golf Club, more than a dozen states were represented. Tim Sampson noted that the field of two hundred fifty was extremely strong.
Nineteen Landings Club competitors racked up an impressive twenty-three metals, including five gold, ten silver and eight bronze. Gold medalists included AJ Goldman, playing with Shannon Baiocchetti in the 50+, 4.0 category, Dinah Zapatka and Amy Paderewski who continued their winning streak in the 4.0 women’s doubles. Sisters Lindsey and Lexi Thomas, playing in only their second tournament, won in the 19– 49, 3.0 division.
Silver medals were won by David Eicholtz and Ben Lockshin in the men’s 19 – 49, 3.5 division, and Johnny Moran and Karen Inglese in mixed doubles 50+, 4.0. Dinah Zapatka and Peter Doward took silver in mixed doubles 4.5, and Karen Inglese and Claudia Gaughf in women’s 4.0. Finally, Kristen Berger and Krista Poppell rounded out the category, taking silver in the 19 – 49, 4.0 division.
Chas Ferrelle and Johnny Moran took bronze in men’s 50+ 4.0, as did Peter Doward and Andrew Jones in men’s 19 – 49, 4.5. So did Jane Beckley and Claire O’Donnell, playing in women’s 50 +, 3.5, and Jennifer Dwyer and Laurie Nesbit in women’s 50+, 3.0.
By the time the courts cleared, Savannah Golf Club had once again hosted an extremely successful tournament, while The Landings Club again proved that they are a pickleball power. With our strong professional staff and stable of dedicated picklers, we can only get stronger. Stay tuned.
November is teeing up to be a good month for pickleball tournaments. The always popular three day Special Pops Tournament will be played at The Landings Club starting on November 3rd. Not only is Special Pops a player and crowd favorite, the event supports an extremely worthy cause. If you don’t play in tournaments, please consider volunteering to help. Contact Elison McAllaster at elisonmacallaster@gmail.com for details.
The following weekend The Amelia Island Court Classic will be played at the Omni Amelia Island Resort in Fernandina Beach, Florida. The tournament is a charity event benefitting Take Stock in Children. According to its website, Take Stock in Children was established in 1995 as a non-profit organization in Florida that provides a unique opportunity for deserving, low-income youth to escape the cycle of poverty through education. If you have space in your pickleball schedule, go to www.pickleballbracket.com and sign up. Anyone with questions can contact former Landings resident and ace pickler, Ted Copeland, at aicourtclassic@gmail.com. Well educated children are the key to our future and Take Stock in Children has received a four-star charity rating. If you have time in your busy pickleball calendar, please consider a trip to Florida.