14th Annual Peachtree Invitational - A Smashing Success

Atlanta, Georgia
February 22-24, 2019
By Peter Lauer

Draws on Live Scoring  

The 14th Annual Peachtree Invitational, known for “Great Paddle & Great Parties”, was a smashing success on so many levels this year.  The three-day event welcomed 58 teams from 13 states, including four national champions, and was played on 11 of Atlanta’s now 15 paddle courts.  Tournament central was located at our beautiful three court public venue named Bitsy Grant (Paddle) Tennis Center, spearheaded by our extraordinary volunteer, promoter and player, Freddy Goldenberg.

The weather cooperated almost perfectly, despite long-range forecasts of rain.  On Friday, 20 teams competed in the women’s tournament, which led into a spectacular courtside party of about 90 players and guests. In the incredibly close three-set finals, defending champion Lisa Teer and her partner, last year’s runner up, Ewa Radzikowska, defeated legendary four-time National Champion Cindy Prendergast and her three-time National Champion partner Lauren Zink.  Peachtree Paddle would like to thank Cindy and Lauren for coming to Atlanta to play – we were honored!

The 38-team men’s tournament included two more National Champions, Mike Cochrane and Jerry Albrikes, though not paired together.  Our winners (and last year’s runners-up) were the terrific Charlotte team of Eric Miller & Claes Persson, who defeated Gustavo (Guga) Goncalves and Andrew Orban of Washington, DC in an exciting and hard fought straight set match.

The always popular Saturday night party for sponsors, players and volunteers, was held at the lovely Buckhead home of Jenny & Vern Nagel and raised nearly $4000 via a raffle, toward future public paddle courts in Atlanta. The grand prize winner, Jeff Dehart and his wife, will enjoy a long weekend at the magical Blackberry Farm in Tennessee. 

A warm PPL thanks to the 116 players, 30 volunteers, 17 sponsors and the APTA team who made this great tournament happen!!!

Women’s Results:
Main Draw: Ewa Radzikowska/Lisa Teer def. Cindy Prendergast/Lauren Zink, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Quarterfinal Reprieve: Kristen Davin/Nancy Gasparadek def. Heather Shaw/Janet Steyl, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4
Consolation: Karen Crick/Nan Miller def. Katie Crenshaw/Holly Kelley, 6-0, 6-1
Consolation Reprieve: Betsy Butler/Tracy Stalzer def. Diana Campbell/Nancy Miller, 6-3, 6-1
Last Chance: Jennifer Dickey/Sandy Kuznof def. Elizabeth Cleveland/Caroline Tucker, 6-1, 6-2

Men’s Results:
Main Draw: Eric Miller/Claes Persson def. Gustavo Goncalves/Andrew Orban, 6-3, 6-2
Quarterfinal Reprieve: Jerry Albrikes/Nick Raho def. Niclas Nilsson/Anders Persson, 6-3, 6-3
Reprieve: Mike Cochrane/Remington Reynolds def. Moutray McLaren/David Shay, 6-0, 6-3
Consolation: David Eastman/Robert Watkins def. Tim Buwick/Billy Zimmerman, 6-3, 6-3
Consolation Reprieve: Bob Cramer/Allen Graber def. Ivor Longo/David Shonk, 6-2, 6-0
Feed In Consolation: Henry Bond/John O’Bryan def. Jeff DeHart/Bruce Street, 6-0,
6-0