The West defeated the East for the sixth consecutive year at this year's Florida Cup in May, featuring the closest final tally in tournament history decided on the final match of the day at the PGA National Health & Racquet Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
"This year's Florida Cup was certainly the most competitive in the six-year history of the event, as evidenced by the closest final score ever, 26-24 for the West," said Jeff Davis, captain of the West's Mens'50's squad. "Both East and West Coast squads boast successful backgrounds in professional, international, national, collegiate, junior and senior competition."
The West has captured the competition each year since the inception of the Florida Cup in 2004. The event uses a Davis Cup-style format with four singles and one doubles match in each age division in Men's 35's-80's. One point is awarded for a win in each of the 50 total matches, with the winning team claiming the Florida Cup.
The West's captains were Rhett Rollyson (Men's 35's), Jose Campos (40's), Kevin Campbell (45's), Jeff Davis (50's), Alex Deeb (55's), Bill Christensen (60's), Joe Bachmann (65's), Don Mathias (70's), David Rothgraber (75's), and Clem Hopp (80's). The East divisions were captained by Bob Wuhrman (35's and 40's), Bruce Kurtz (45's), Greg Wheaton (50's), Joe Boquin (55's), Geoff Moore (60's), Jim Baker (65's), Don Biedinger (70's), Bob Thompson (75's), and Phil Martinetti (80's).
Players going undefeated in two singles matches for the East were Chris Pressly, Thompson, Kurtz and Moore. For the West, undefeated players in two singles matches were Matt Litsky, Paul Kronk, Fred Farzanegan, Andy McCurry, Bachmann and Hopp.
"The PGA National Resort & Spa and its staff, under the leadership of Bob Wuhrman, did an outstanding job of hosting the 2009 Florida Cup, the East Coast's first such endeavor," Davis said. "Kudos to USTA Florida and the Adult Competitive Council for sponsoring the Florida Cup and providing this friendly but competitive men's team event."
Wuhrman did double duty captaining the East's Men's 35's and 40's teams.
"The East coast fielded NCAA All-American Chris Pressley and former ATP player Dick Stockton along with many other past national and state champions," Wuhrman said. "The singles matches were as competitive as it gets with many three-set thrillers which could have gone either way. The East coast had a couple critical doubles losses that were expected wins that potentially made the difference in the final result. The beauty of an event like this is the comradery of 50 of Florida's most elite tennis players getting together and competing at one of the states most beautiful resorts in all available age divisions."