Crystal Lake Racket Club to host pro tourney
Submitted by Crystal Lake Park District
The Racket Club, a Crystal Lake Park District facility, will host its biggest pro tournament to date, the Walt Herrick Sr. Memorial Men’s Prize Money Tennis Tournament from Friday to Sunday, Jan. 4-6. A guaranteed $4,000 prize money distribution has made this tournament one that professionals and top local collegiate players do not want to miss. Players committed for the tournament include:
Local favorites, McHenry County Classic Men’s Open finalists and recent NCAA Division 1 players John Cincola and Sam Sweeney.
Former Costa Rican Davis Cup player and local tennis luminary Fred Thome.
2006 NCAA Doubles Champion and University of Illinois all-American Ryan Rowe.
Crystal Lake Racket Club products and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater teammates Cam Laktash and Mitch Osborne.
The $4,000 prize money distribution is as follows: Prize money is guaranteed. Singles: Champion, $1600; finalist, $800, semifinalists, $300. Doubles, per team: Champions. $600; finalists, $300. Players may register online at tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=132034
The Racket Club is at 9101 S. Route 31, one mile south of Rakow Road in Algonquin. The public is invited to stop by and watch the tournament action. Admission is $5 for the entire tournament or $3 daily. There will be great close up views through the spacious lounge windows. The Racket Club is truly excited about the opportunity to host this tournament for the fourth straight year. “Not only does this event provide the club’s members and the public a rare and special opportunity to observe great professional-quality tennis players on court, it also allows spectators the chance to interact closely with players when they are not competing,” said Rob Laue, club manager at The Racket Club.
This tournament is a fundraiser for the Walt Herrick, Sr. Memorial Fund. Walt Herrick Sr. was a Crystal Lake businessman who founded The Racket Club in 1972. The fund was created to provide scholarships to promising junior players who would otherwise not be able to afford access to tennis lessons and memberships at The Racket Club.