POIPU — The difference of a day had an impact on the 2016 New Year Doubles hosted by the Poipu Kai Charity Tennis at the Poipu Kai Tennis Association. “Last year, New Year’s happened on Thursday,” said Herb Noe, teaming
POIPU — The difference of a day had an impact on the 2016 New Year Doubles hosted by the Poipu Kai Charity Tennis at the Poipu Kai Tennis Association.
“Last year, New Year’s happened on Thursday,” said Herb Noe, teaming with Shawn Morimoto in the Men’s A flight. “This year, New Year’s was on Friday and the enrollment in this tournament was not as great as last year.”
The Noe/Morimoto duo dropped to the eventual Men’s A champions, father-and-son duo Tracy Tucker and Brad Lum Tucker, in the opening match, 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7).
Despite the opening round loss, the Noe/Morimoto pair came back to top the duo of Kimo Honda and Harold Shimono, 6-3, 7-6. But the higher-seeded Honda and Shimono pair faced Tucker and Lum Tucker for the finals where they dropped 4-6, 4-6.
Herb said this was an amazing tournament for the Tucker family because not only did the father-and-son team take the Men’s A flight, but their wife/mom, Carolyn Lum, was paired with Helen Young in the Women’s C flight.
The Lum and Young pair opened with a win over Jessica Hreljac and Kathrine Oneil, 6-4, 6-0 before dropping to Tia Fulks and Linda Dietrich, 6-4, 3-6 to give the Fulks and Dietrich pair the Women’s C title.
Because of the short field, several of the finals were settled Saturday afternoon, including the Men’s A and all of the women’s flights.
Rosemary Smythe, teaing with Tammie Quinlan in Women’s B, topped the duo of Paulette Lum and Debbie Ball, 6-0, 6-0 for the title of that flight.
A mother-and-daughter pair, Joy and Sarah Kukino, topped the Women’s A flight with a 6-3, 7-5 win over the pair of Jennifer Hreljac and Sue Anderson. Earlier in the day, the Kukino pair took a 6-1, 6-0 win over Ronnie Wilkie and Ginger Allen to advance while Hreljac and Anderson were 6-1, 6-2 winners over the pair of Sonya Halladay and Kristy Pak.
Proceeds from the tournament went to benefit the Kauai United Way.
Krystyna Noe, tournament coordinator, said this was tennis for a great cause and a fun celebration.
“Please help us support this wonderful organization that provides help for many of Kauai’s residents daily, helping to make our island an even more wonderful place to live,” Noe said.
