An Insider’s Look at the Long Island Women’s Invitational

Ann Sheedy
December 3, 2011
Glen Cove, NY

(l-r) Finalists Lisa Rudloff & Liz Jaffee,
Winners Cindy Prendergast & Kerri Delmonico

It is 8:30 PM on Friday night and I am just now leaving Nassau Country Club after 12 hours.  I am exhausted and exhilarated and I didn’t hit a single shot.  I have been sitting and watching with and talking to amazing paddle players. 

The depth of the field was phenomenal.   While I am in awe of their skills, I am more in awe of their sportsmanship.  These women played their hearts out.  Every match was fraught with danger; the points were mind bogglingly long, the tension high.  Yet, there we were in the hut watching the final between Kerri Delmonico and Cindy Prendergast against last year’s National’s finalists, locals Lisa Rudloff and Liz Jaffe.

Laughter and good cheer were the order of the night.  Nassau Country Club had supplied sumptuous appetizers and wine and beer and the sense of camaraderie was palpable.  I know among the occupants of the hut there were some disappointed losers but they were all gracious losers, which I think is one of the hallmarks of our sport.  It is not so hard to be a gracious winner; the telling mark is if you can be a gracious loser. And, oh yes, in a match filled with great points, Cindy’s precision and Kerri’s tenaciousness won the day.  A fitting end to a day of spectacular play and good sportsmanship.

Final Draw (pdf) 

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists!