Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

A few drops of rain were hardly going to stop this hardy bunch.

More than 70 players in 15 divisions flocked to Erickson Park courts in Port Angeles - and when things got a little precipitous last Saturday, to Sequim for a few matches - at the 24th-annual Saundra Kent Memorial tennis tournament that culminated Aug. 9.

Sequim players either shared or won outright 10 of those 15 divisions, including a clean sweep in the mixed doubles divisions.

After losing to their counterparts in 2008, husband and wife combo Doug and Allison Hastings got revenge on fellow Sequim players (and top seeds) Kyle McKenzie and Justine Textor with a 6-4, 7-5 victory in the 4.0 mixed doubles final.

In 3,56 mixed doubles, Debra Knutson and Stu Sherman topped Andy Chinn and Beverly Hoffman (6-1, 6-4) in another all-Sequim final while Dave and Monique Brasher took the mixed 3.0 final in three sets.

More than 30 of the 75 competitors in the Saundra Kent tourney, held July 31-Aug. 2 and Aug. 7-9, are from Sequim.

Chris Anderson, tourney director, said the Saundra Kent Memorial remains a popular because so many players can get involved.

"I think we offer a pretty wide variety of events," Anderson said. "Also, we have a lot of young players in addition to retired players."

Rain briefly stopped action for about an hour on Saturday morning and some matches shifted to Sequim.

See more pictures and full results on page B-4.



Saundra Kent

Memorial tournament

Division winners:

_ Men's singles: Waylon Lam*, 3.0; Micah Roos, 3.5; Jesse Schouten, 4.0; David Pemberton, 55s

_ Women's singles: Monique Brasher*, 3.0; Kathryn Price, 3.5; Justine Textor*, 4.0

_ Mixed doubles: Dave Brasher*/Monique Brasher*, 3.0; Debra Knutson*/Stu Sherman*, 3.5; Allison Hastings*/Doug Hastings*, 4.0

_ Men's doubles: Men's 3.5 doubles - David Chance/James Irvine*, 3.5; David Godfrey/Doug Hastings*, 4.0; David Chance/James Irvine*, 60s

_ Women's doubles: Donna Howe/Shirley Peters, 3.5; Karen Chrisman*/Beverly Hoffman*, 4.0

* - Sequim competitor