A big thank you goes out to Gordie Sands for a terrific job running this year's doubles tournament.
Twenty teams competed in 16 matches on a gorgeous Saturday, while soaked courts overnight could not dampen the spirit of the semifinal and final matches Sunday. The perfect weather inspired a high quality of play on all of the courts in each of the rounds. Long rallies and hotly contested games marked nearly every match at both ends of the draw. Saturday afternoon's Quarterfinals were particularly exciting. Kurt Riess and Mark Brass pressed Russell Neale and Matt Gilman before yielding 6-4, 6-2. The team of Ram Chakropani and Rizwan Shamsi outlasted Andre Aubin and Anthony Lochiatto 6-3, 6-1 in a tight match on Court 1. Meanwhile Zack and Jordan Arbit gave defending champs Bob DiCara and Scott Zenack a run for their money but the champs held at 6-2, 6-4, while Mark McGuire and Ed Oakes bested Steve and Allen Davis
6-2, 6-2 in a battle of top-spin.
Sunday's matches were delayed to the afternoon due to flooding on the courts. Unfortunately Ram and Rizwan had to default their semifinal match against Matt and Russ due to illness. The other semi started out with strong defense on the soft, slow, damp court as Oakes/McGuire traded breaks with DiCara/Zenack. Caveman and Rocket closed out the close first set 6-3 by a single break, but Eddie and Mark battled back in the second set, building a 5-2 lead on terrific serving and well-placed volleys. DiCara and Zenack then rallied to win 4 straight before Eddie and Mark tied it up at 6-6. The tie-break was equally back-and-forth before Bob and Scott finished it up 7-5.
In the finals, DiCara and Zenack rode their semi-final win to a nearly flawless 6-0 first set. Matt and Russ hit great serves, groundstrokes, volleys and overheads, but couldn't break through their opponents even better shot-making. Scott and Bob retrieved nearly every overhead and attacked at both net and baseline and repeatedly pushed Matt and Russ back from net with outstanding lobs. Neale/Gilman found their game in the second set but couldn't hold off the DiCara/Zenack attack. After Neale/Gilman closed the 5-3 lead to 5-4, Caveman and Rocket closed out the match and the tournament for their 4th championship in 4 years. Congratulations to Bob and Scott for a superb tournament, to Eddie, Mark, Matt and Russell who played terrific tennis Sunday as well, and to all of the players who made this one of the club's finest doubles events
2012 Winners Bob DiCara & Scott Zenackwith
Finalists Russell Neale & Matt Gilman
Sunday's matches were delayed to the afternoon due to flooding on the courts. Unfortunately Ram and Rizwan had to default their semifinal match against Matt and Russ due to illness. The other semi started out with strong defense on the soft, slow, damp court as Oakes/McGuire traded breaks with DiCara/Zenack. Caveman and Rocket closed out the close first set 6-3 by a single break, but Eddie and Mark battled back in the second set, building a 5-2 lead on terrific serving and well-placed volleys. DiCara and Zenack then rallied to win 4 straight before Eddie and Mark tied it up at 6-6. The tie-break was equally back-and-forth before Bob and Scott finished it up 7-5. 
and Russ hit great serves, groundstrokes, volleys and overheads, but couldn't break through their opponents even better shot-making. Scott and Bob retrieved nearly every overhead and attacked at both net and baseline and repeatedly pushed Matt and Russ back from net with outstanding lobs. Neale/Gilman found their game in the second set but couldn't hold off the DiCara/Zenack attack. After Neale/Gilman closed the 5-3 lead to 5-4, Caveman and Rocket closed out the match and the tournament for their 4th championship in 4 years. Congratulations to Bob and Scott for a superb tournament, to Eddie, Mark, Matt and Russell who played terrific tennis Sunday as well, and to all of the players who made this one of the club's finest doubles events