Jerry Albrikes/Guga Goncalves win 2016 Games On The James

December 7, 2016
Richmond, VA

See Draw

Some of the best players in Region VII and beyond played the Games at the James tournament this year, attracted by its new National Ranking Tournament status. Held at The Country Club of Virginia, there were 32 participants hailing from Charleston SC, Charlotte, Charlottesville, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Washington DC, Richmond, and New Jersey. The players enjoyed perfect paddle weather, with temperatures averaging in the low 40s throughout the day.

After a fun morning of paddle, local favorites Blake Gayle and Peyton Lawson earned a spot in the semifinals with a close 6-4, 6-4 victory over brothers Charlie and Mike Cobb. On the other side of the draw, local legend lefty Andy Todd, with his also lefty partner Dan Mott from Cincinnati, earned a semifinal spot by defeating the fifth seeds, Hampton Bargatze and Chris Snow. In the semis, the second seeds Eric Miller and Randy Lofgren defeated CCV's Gayle and Lawson 7-6, 6-2 in a tough battle that could have gone either way, while 2010 National Champion Jerry Albrikes and Guga Goncalves, the top seeds, ended the run of Todd and Mott 6-4, 6-2.

As the night came and the temperature dropped to the mid 30's, a crowd of about sixty spectators showed up to watch the exciting finals under the lights. The finals lasted close to two hours with points that exceeded more than 50 shots, keeping the entire crowd entertained. After losing the first set, Miller and Lofgren saved four match points and had a great come back to claim the second set in a close tiebreaker. Albrikes and Golcalves came out strong in the third set, however, and went on to win the match and the title, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-1. It was a great weekend with lots of great play and camaraderie. Many thanks to tournament director Tomas Gonzalez and all the participating players and staff for making this year’s tournament such a great event!

Results:
Main draw: Jerry Albrikes/Guga Goncalves def. Randy Lofgren/Eric Miller 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-1
Quarterfinal reprieve: Hampton Bargatze/Chris Snow def. Rich Razzatti/Kevin Rotty 6-4, 6-2
Consolation: Forrest Butler/Mark Tulenko def. Carter Hoerr /Charles Valentine 6-3, 6-4
Consolation reprieve: Brett Hayes/Massie Meredith def. Thorp Davis/Whitt Sheppard 6,3, 6-3