Gold Ball Winners From NorCal
- marketing339784
- Jun 24
- 6 min read
Gold Ball - the most coveted trophy for most USTA amateur tennis players. It’s awarded to the winners of Level 1 tournaments in age divisions both for juniors and adults. Since the beginning of the year several of our NorCal players achieved this goal:
Darrin Cohen, Marianne Dundon, Lindsey Montero, Shelly Bartlett Sweeney, Andrea Barnes, Leslie Airola-Murveit, Robert Quall, Kelly and Mila Mulready, and Kathleen Heinze.
Read what they say about the experience and what advice they give for players:
Ft Lauderdale, F
"Winning this Gold Ball was a great moment for me—it’s my seventh overall and second on clay. I completed the career senior slam last year with a win on grass, so I’ve now won Gold Balls on all four surfaces, but this one still felt special. I’m always striving to stay in the conversation for the U.S. World Championship team, and winning on clay at a strong Level 1 event definitely helps my case for next year’s selection. For anyone chasing a Gold Ball, my advice is to keep showing up. Keep doing the work, take care of your body, and compete as often as you can. You don’t have to be perfect—just persistent."
La Jolla, CA
"Winning a gold ball was not a goal I had set for myself. And I think that’s how it happened. When I compete in tournaments, I try to have the mindset that I am there to compete. Not to win, to compete. To give my best effort and solve the puzzle to unlock my opponent’s game. Worrying about winning is stifling. I guess I’m growing up and figuring out that playing with joy is the key to success. As tennis players, we work on our games, shots and fitness but equally as important is having a positive attitude and being courageous."
"Winning a Gold Ball at the Hard Courts in La Jolla this year was definitely on my bucket list of tennis accomplishments! What made it even more meaningful was winning it with my older sister, Lindsay Bartlett Montero.
Tennis has always been a central part of our family. We grew up playing at Alpine Hills under coach Chris Bradley, and all four of us went on to compete at the collegiate level. Our grandfather, Harold Throckmorton, won the U.S. Open Doubles Championship in 1917. Even our mom, who recently passed away, played until she was 90 years old.
The La Jolla tournament is held in such a beautiful location—it’s absolutely worth the trip. With the ocean just steps away, good weather, and a welcoming tennis community, the event feels like a blend of competition and vacation. The beauty of tennis is that it’s truly a lifelong sport, you can play at any age and continue to compete at every stage.
"Winning a USTA Gold Ball is the ultimate feather in a player's cap and I just won my 5th in Women’s 70 doubles, played at the hard courts at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. I've won a Gold Ball with 4 different partners over the past 15 years on clay, hard courts and the indoors, including Mother/Daughter. It takes dedication and hard work throughout the year to improve fitness, strokes and mental performance. Lessons, league play, tournaments and practice matches are the best ways to prepare for the ultimate challenge of competing with the best of the best for the Gold Ball. Last year I was sidelined for 5 months after replacing both knees, but I’m fortunate to be back – my new goal is to win a Gold Ball in singles!"
LAGUNA WOODS, CA
"I have been asked the question," What does it mean to win a gold ball?". I will attempt to answer this way. In my first year in the 70 age division I played Rudy Hernando in the finals, having defeated Bob Duesler in the semis. Hernando, former tour player, had played three times at Wimbledon and ten times at the U.S Open getting to the round of 16 in one of the Opens. My best showing was getting to the finals of the Tacoma City tournament!
I remember getting on the elevator in Houston and hearing one of my friends say, "I didn't think Quall was that good!". I turned to them and said, "Neither did I!" I went back to my hotel and stayed awake all night. You can't get more excited than that. Fortunately winning in the Seniors is on a much lower level than Open tennis. The excitement drops off considerably with your family and dramatically with your friends, as it should. First Gold ball winners undoubtedly were excited as I was.
My doubles partner, Wilbur Jones, in the latest tournament agreed with me when I said I would trade all my silver and bronze balls for one Gold ball. The Gold ball does not replicate a tennis ball but a small marble! What a surprise when they handed me the small box! Does put winning the Gold ball in the seniors in the proper perspective.
How do you prepare for winning a Gold ball? You don't. It is icing on the cake should you win a National Championship. We seniors play tournaments and leagues because of the joy of competing ,meeting new and old friends and keeping in tip top shape! Remember, if you play tennis tournaments as a senior you add ten years to your life! At 85 I am counting on that study! If you really want a gold ball, find the best woman player in your division and play mixed doubles! Gold ball almost guaranteed and you will be amazed at how she carried you to the title!"
Claremont, CA
What does it mean to win a gold ball?
KELLY:
Winning a gold ball with my daughter, Mila, ranks as one of my proudest tennis achievements. I had always hoped to win a gold ball one day, but having achieved it with my daughter is the ultimate dream.
MILA:
It is already such a special and unique thing to compete side-by-side in tennis at a high level with my own mom, so to be able to actually win with her makes it all that much more special! We set our sights on winning a mother-daughter gold ball together a long while back, but it was always sort of a “far-future” idea. To have finally manifested this goal, especially at our first-ever tournament together, was very exciting, and it will for sure not be our last!
Words of Advice:
Whether you’re just looking to travel and have fun, or your heart is set on taking home hardware, you should definitely seek out family national tournaments. There’s something for everyone! However, if both the parent and child are current high-level competitive players, there is a “sweet spot” between age and ability levels that is a perfect cross-section for success.
"Playing these national mother-daughter tournaments with my daughter is a delightful experience - an opportunity to travel together, to compete as equals, and to grow and develop together as a team. Winning a gold ball is just icing on the cake - the joy is the competition, win or lose…but I must admit, I’m so used to losing, or should I say learning, it’s a treat to experience the novelty of winning! Anyone who loves tennis and wants to explore the limits of their potential should play the Level 1 national tournaments - the tennis and the players are inspirational."
Other Recent Gold Ball Champions from NorCal:
La Jolla, CA
Women’s 70+ singles: Andrea Barnes
PALM DESERT, CA
Overland Park, KS
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