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The Hamptons event was next up for PCF competitors on the Charles Evan’s PCF Pro/Am Tour. On Friday evening, players and guests met in Southampton for the opening dinner party, along with entertainment at the home of John and Susan Kean.
Perfect Saturday morning summer weather greeted everyone for the opening rounds of the pro/am. Repeating the format from previous years, the event featured 32 pro/am teams competing at 8 private estates, located from Southampton to East Hampton. The tournament consisted of 8 groups of 4 teams, 4 final round matches resulting in 4 champions and 4 runner-up teams. After the first day of round robin play, 8 finalists emerged to compete the next day for titles, trophies and prizes! This year’s Saturday lunch was again hosted by the Loeb’s at their magnificent ocean front estate in Southampton. Participants feasted on the oceanfront lawn enjoying a smorgasbord of treats.
That evening everyone collected at the Parish Art Museum, in Watermill, for a dinner party followed by a performance by Kool & the Gang. It was a memorable evening with everyone discoing the night away to the endless hits of the iconic eighties band.
Another glorious day of weather greeted everyone for the final day of competition. All 32 teams gathered at the Shinnecock Tennis Club for lunch and their final match. Mark Ein and current touring pro, Rajeev Ram, attempting another run at the title after being defeated in last year’s final, went through to compete against a first-time finalist, Anton Levy, and Edouard Roger-Vasselin. In an extremely close battle, Anton and Edouard went on to clinch the title!
In another final, this year’s Greenwich event champion Jay Bernstein and Scott Lipsky took on the current leader on the tour leaderboard, Marie Bernstein, and Teymuraz Gabashvili. In another great match, Marie and Teymuraz beat Jay and Scott, handing Marie her first title on the Charles Evans PCF Pro/Am Tour!
Our third final featured Jane Lauder and Georgy Chukhleb competing against Amy Griffin and Jared Palmer. Returning to competition after a couple of years, the always tough Griffin/Palmer duo went on to defeat Jane and Georgy.
In the last final, Indian Wells champions, Dick Merkin and Rohan Bopana, went up against first time finalist Brad Peck and former French touring pro, Cyril Saulnier. Brad and Cyril defeated Dick and Rohan, handing them their first defeat in 14 matches!
Congratulations to the 4 victors as well as the runner-up teams. The 2017 leader board shows Marie Bernstein, Jay Bernstein, Dick Merkin, and Larry Leeds all contending for a tour title. The tour points determined from the results of this event can be viewed on the leader board.
On behalf of Prostate Cancer Foundation, I would like to take this opportunity to thank The Charles Evans Foundation, the PCF Pro/Am players and donors, as well as all of our sponsors: Movado, Alerion, Babolat, and Herschel Bonchek.
In addition I’d like to give a big thanks to the Loeb family for their terrific lunch and hospitality, Daniel Oliva and Patrice Guadagni for allowing us to play the Sunday afternoon matches at their picturesque Shinecock Tennis Club.
Thank you to the following for the use of their private courts on Saturday morning:
David and Julie Koch Michael and Marcie Loeb Ken and Marie Fishel Jane Lauder Tom Lee and Ann Tenenbaum Josh and Marjorie Harris Bill Ackman Bill Finneran
Next Stop: Palm Beach!
Anthony Boulle
PCF Pro/Am Tour Director