Tennis notes: Walburg's team goes 2-2 in Southern sectional

Steve Walburg was unable to play last year, but he went to observe Scott Laymon's Georgia state championship 3.5 USTA men's senior 40s team in the Southern sectional tournament.

This year he was able to put what he observed into use as he captained the 3.5 senior team in 2015 that played in Asheville, N.C., last week. Walburg's team won the state championship held in Columbus in June earning another trip to the Southern sectionals.

Laymon was moved up to 4.0, so Walburg took over as captain of the 3.5 team. He has played in the league since 2003, starting with Mixed doubles.

"My wife took one of the starter classes and wanted me to hit with her so she could practice. I wasn't very good, so I signed up with Larry Mims and she and I took lessons to get better. I have been playing ever since." Walburg said of his tennis. "I love to play."

Going to Asheville to compete were team members Michael Ta, David Overby, Mitch McCoy, Ken Jenkins, Hank Tassin, Tim Zabel, Jeff Healey, Tom Shimp, Richard Ramey, David Schuetz and Michael Henderson. The team went 2-2 in Flight II.

Dennis Medders, Wesley Williamson, Mark Thompson and John Sievers were unable to make the trip but were on the state championship team.

<b>Return to Server Tournament</b>

This year's Return to Server Elvis tournament at Cooper Creek boasted 202 total entries in all levels of USTA from 2.5 to Open divisions. Unlike previous years, there was actually a small amount of prize money for winners of all levels of singles and doubles ($20 per person) as well as prizes for the open division.

The tournament was held July 29 to Aug. 2. There were five men's singles champions, four women's singles title winners, five men's and women's doubles winners and six mixed title winners.

In the women's singles, the winners were at 3.0-Kristin Lund, 3.5-Adria Holden, 4.0-Natalie Kelly, 4.5-Stephanie Thiel. Women's doubles winners were at 2.5-MaryAnn Aide-Symantha Cook, 3.0-Melissa Sievers-Teri Skinner, 3.5- Patti Brooks-Melissa Foy, 4.0-Jennifer Agnew-Kelly, 4.5-Kelly Felt-Jennifer Wampler.

In the men's singles the winners were 3.0-Sungwoo Jung, 3.5-Bharath Bhaskar, 4.0-Max Patrick, 4.5-Vincent Mczeek, Men's Open-Jess Jones. In the men's doubles it was at 3.0-Matt Redondo-Ross Linhart, 3.5-Hal Caison-Jeff Haley, 4.0-Dalton Chapman-John Lee, 45.-John Crenshaw-Brandon Snellings, Open-Jones-Christian Garay.

Mixed winners were at 2.5- Cook-Brett Foote, 3.0-Lund-Redondo, 3.5-Jennifer Pitts-Boyd Northrop, 4.0-Cathy Gunnels-Chapman, 4.5-Julie Huckaby-Snellings. Open-Renee Fleishman-Roger Pearce.

<b>Davis Cup</b>

Christian Garay was able to help Puerto Rico in its quest to stay in the America's group qualifying.

His record for 2015 is 2-0 as he won both against Costa Rica's John Saborio, 7-5, and 6-1 in Puerto Rico's 5-0 win. He also captured the singles win in their 3-2 loss in the second round of matches, winning in round 5 against El Salvador's Alvarado Larin, 6-2, 6-3.

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 6:13 PM with the headline "Tennis notes: Walburg's team goes 2-2 in Southern sectional ."