Regional
matters
continued
Quail Creek Classic
Pickleball Tournament
Raises Funds for St. Jude
BY LENNY FRIEDMAN
Jerry Canaday (tournament co-chair), Lenny Friedman (tournament co-chair), and Dusty
Friedman (fundraising chair).
O
n March 23-24, the third annual Quail Creek
Classic Pickleball Tournament was held at the
Quail Creek Country Club in Green Valley, AZ. A
few days before the tournament, a professional
exhibition was staged with Joey Farias, Mark
Renneson, Sean Rickard and Brian Baker. All proceeds from
both events went to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,
USAPA’s charity of choice.
Nearly 250 pickleball enthusiasts donated between $5 and
$100 to see the professionals display their superb pickleball
abilities and clown with each other. From behind the back,
between the legs, to around the post (ATP), ERNE shots, or
shots while on their back, the professionals demonstrated
how upper-level players play the game. After the pros played
three round robins, the spectators had an opportunity to play
with them, either by having their raffle ticket drawn or bid for
the opportunity. Two generous and opportunistic pickleball
players each donated $350 to St. Jude and played an 11-point
game with the pros.
The first and second Quail Creek Classic Pickleball
Tournaments in 2017 and 2018 raised $4,000 and $8,000.
This year’s tournament raised $17,000—$2,000 from the
professional exhibition, $8,000 from registration fees (which
were optional), and $7,000 from auction and raffle items,
including a week’s stay at a condo in Palm Springs during
the USAPA Nationals in Indian Wells, CA. Thanks to the
volunteers and generous donors, total expenses for the
events were just $343, including $172 for medals.
There were 177 players from southern Arizona, the
Phoenix area and 18 from other states. Players competed
in 2.5, 3.0. 3.5, and 4.0+ in men’s, women’s and mixed
doubles. The format was round robin with playoffs to
determine bronze, silver and gold medals. The event
was not USAPA sanctioned. There were referees for all
matches and linespeople for the gold medal games. The
tournament was played on 16 dedicated courts in Quail
Creek. Most importantly, the volunteer medics on staff
were not needed, as there were no injuries. Paddletek was
the Gold Level sponsor, and a good time was had by all!
The 2020 Quail Creek Classic Pickleball Tournament
for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will take
place March 28-29.
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