HAWAII-PACIFIC TENNIS FOUNDATION

Events & News

Alex Smith Wins Two Championships During Croquet and Wooden Racket Weekend

Alex Smith teamed with last year's croquet champion Ken Shipp on Saturday, June 8 to win the Foundation Wooden Racket Doubles championship. Smith and Shipp beat James Lin and Sosefu Veatama 6-2, 6-4 in the finals, shortly after vanquishing Mark Beede and David Berman 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 in the semi-finals. Earlier in the day Smith and Shipp warmed up with a 6-0, 6-1 drubbing of Mike Voiles and Hector Vargas.

While the wooden rackets tested everyone's ability to adapt, both Smith and Shipp served well throughout the day. Their ability to serve, adapt to the heavier rackets during the points and to focus on weaker side opponents carried the day.

Smith continued his winning ways the next day as he stormed through the field to win the 27th annual Beckwith Hill Croquet Championships. Smith came through late, as former champion Mark Beede first grabbed poison status and then knocked out last year's champion Ken Shipp. However Smith quickly gained momentum with a stupendous wicket shot which forced Beede to another part of the field. Alex bided his time as Beede methodically eliminated most of the rest of the field. Then with shark like predatory skill, Smith took advantage of the soon to be infamous "root" shot to knock the ex-champ out. Alex finished off second place straggler Jody Popp to capture his first ever croquet championship.