More than 100 of NorCal's top senior players squared off for $7,000 in prize money at their annual Grand Prix Championships held for the second year at the Millenium Sports Club Rancho Solano in Fairfield.

Just entering won them a handsome pocket Data Organizer gift and a free plate at the Feb. 1 Senior Awards Banquet in San Mateo, an event that has been growing in popularity. But Grand Prix participation was off slightly from the year before, but not as dramatically as total NorCal senior competition for 2002. Singles, for Jan. 1 to September, was 1,262, down 29 per cent from 1,770 for the same period in 2001. Doubles was down 24 per cent.

The players experienced sunny, invigorating fall weather in the third week in November. Play was divided into two three-day sessions. The first was for the 60-85 groups and the second, extending into the weekend, for the 55s and under. The seniors seem to pride themselves on their sociability.

"We have a great time here every year," said Fred Suessmann, back for doubles competition in both the 55s and 50s. "I just wish more players were involved."

"Me, I really enjoy watching the old guys," said Charlie Fleenor, (left, Charlie Fleenor likes watching old-guy heroics.) the Northern California Senior Tennis Association president who spent long hours assisting on the tournament desk. "Kurt Orban (in the 85s) was out there and fell on his face, bloodied his lip, taped it up and went right back on. And Jack Morrison is something to see. He's invincible in the 85s."

Notable in the results were the 75s, which used the 10-point tiebreak as an option for the third set. In the semis, Parton Keese, the former New York Times tennis reporter now of Rio Nido, got pushed to the max in turning back Paul McGee of Menlo Park 6-2, 4-6, 11-9. Then he fell by the same sword in the final as George Woodall of Santa Cruz stopped him 2-6, 6-3, 10-6. (Consult the NorCal website for complete results; click 'Tournaments', '2002 Adult Schedule', 'November', scroll down to the tournament and click on its ID number; click 'Draws' and pull down from the right.)

Tournament Director Michael Friedman who is the club tennis director felt that next year the six-player (or team) format should be expanded in each division to eight, with a playoff for third place. Using compass draws, players would have matches all three days. He said the club had the courts for it.

NorCal's Women's 35 Intersectional team, unseeded, snagged a third place in the annual competition last fall that drew 11 sectional teams to the Texas playoff. Team members were Carol Akre of Granite Bay, Eva Jackson of Monte Sereno, Kristy Erickson of Santa Rosa and Mary Johnson of Sacramento. They edged Florida 3-2 in the 3/4 playoff.

Elaine Mason up and did it again, aging as she does, like wine. Just last fall the retired tennis teacher and coach at Fresno State was honored by the USTA for achieving in 2001 her second straight 75s double Grand Slam. (She won the singles and doubles of all the national tournaments.) The USTA gave her seats in the Presidents Box for two days at the 2002 US Open. Shortly afterward, playing in her last event of the year, Mason added a third straight double whammy. It's vintage Mason for the record books.