News Release #15

July 9, 2011 St Pete Beach, FL - The Sunrise Table Tennis Club put on its second FASTT sanctioned tournament where sixteen players competed for cash and glory.  Tournament Director Bill Robbins was assisted by Nancy Dorsey and Al Palumbo to put on a fun event for all.

In the Pro division Bin Hai Chu from Miami came into town looking for his first sandpaper win.  After taking down 2/3 of the tournament staff in Bill Robbins (although Bill almost took the second game in deuce) and Al Palumbo, he set his sights on US #4 Kit Jeerapaet.  Kit put up a fight but lost in three straight games in the best 3 of 5 (games to 21).

Kit then took on US #1 Ty Hoff in the round robin.  Kit came out strong with an easy first game win.  Ty regrouped to take the next two games but Kit was not done yet.  Kit took the fourth game to force a game five.  Ty developed an early lead but things were far from over.  Ty was up 19-16 with the serve but Kit promptly took the next three points.  At 19 all, a let was called for an obviously broken ball.  After retrieving a new ball, Ty served short and Kit placed the ball short but a little high (probably because the ball was new) and Ty went for a high risk loop down the line that went in to set up a match point.  A long point ensued next but Kit's last forehand sailed a little long.  These two sandpaper specialists put on a great show for all the appreciative spectators.

This set up a final match between the undefeated Hoff and undefeated Chu.  Chu was looking to reverse their previous result when Hoff beat Chu in the first ever FASTT event in February.  Chu would not be denied this time as he jumped out to early leads in all games.  Hoff made it close in the second game but Chu was red hot.  Chu went on to win three straight and claim the $300 first prize.

Chu improved his Pro Ranking up to #3 with his win behind Hoff and Keith Alban.  Pro Rankings are determined by the amount of prize money won in open FASTT sanctioned tournaments in the previous 12 months.  Pro rankings can be found at National Pro Rankings.

After a 9am sandpaper clinic conducted by Ty Hoff, the Amateur event was played with eleven participants including several new to organized table tennis.  Seventeen year old Adam Drover vacationing in Florida from Canada gave sandpaper a shot and won his round robin group with a win over newcomer Nancy Dorsey.

Perfecto Ramos won his round robin group over organized play newcomer Bill Grueninger Sr. (whose grown son Billy Grueninger also competed in the event).  Perfecto then downed Nancy Dorsey in one semi-final and Adam defeated Bill G. in the other semis to set up the finals.  In the finals Adam put out his best serves to down Perfecto.  Perfecto however picked up six tour points in addition to his previous three points to become the #1 Amateur in the United States.

Amateur rankings can be found at National Amateur Rankings.  The next chance for players to gain Ranking Points will be August 12th in Lakeland, FL.  Upcoming tournaments around the country can be found at Upcoming Tournaments.