2014 Men's Low Country Classic of Charleston

Jerry Albrikes November 17, 2014 Charleston, SC

The second annual 2014 Low Country PCQ played at LTP Tennis and Swimming Club was played in true Northern paddle weather (minus the snow) with temperatures in the high 30s. LTP, located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, built two ground level courts in 2012 with help from an APTA grant.

The two courts were in constant use from 8 AM to 8 PM to get the 14-team tournament completed in one day. With players coming from Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, and South Carolina, the main draw final came down to the defending champs, Marc Porter and Peter Harvey (CT) versus Randy Lofgren and Rob Phillips (Charlotte, NC ). The newly-formed family duo, Rob being Randy's uncle, defeated Porter and Harvey in three tight sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

The top seeds were Graham McNerney and Bob Stratton from Atlanta who lost to the eventual winners in the quarterfinals, 7-5, 6-1. The second seeded team of Mike Cochrane (CT) and Andy Ward (NY) went down to LTP lefty pros Steven Meyers and Ben Simon, 6-2, 6-3, in another quarter. The third seeds of Porter and Harvey defeated Jimmy Mendieta, LTP pro, and Shawn Holland both of Mt. Pleasant, 6-3, 6-0.

In the last quarterfinal, 4th seeds Jerry Albrikes and Peter Ayers, both of LTP, lost to first-time paired team of Russ Burgess (CT) and Andrew Canning (NY) in two tight sets, 7-6, 6-4. The only seeded team left standing in the semis was the experienced team of Porter and Harvey who beat Meyers and Simon, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, while Canning and Burgess lost to the champs, 7-5, 7-5. The quarter reprieve was won by Albrikes and Ayers and the consolation winners were Zen Mottershead and Ross Beattie both from North Carolin.

Thanks to all for the support of paddle in the South.

(L-R) Finalists Peter Harvey and Marc Porter with Winners Randy Lofgren and Rob Phillips