NEXT STOP. . .PENFIELD PRO-AM; ROCHESTER, NY

[Steve Lerner]

The CPRT resumes play this weekend returning for the fifth straight year to Rochester for the Penfield Pro-Am. After a long break following the US Open the top five CPRT touring pros are anxious to get into action on Friday night. Leading the way are top three seeds, Woody Clouse, Ruben Gonzalez and Cliff Swain with Mike Ceresia and Mike Ray looking at a possible quarterfinals battle here for the second straight year. Watch for updates after the quarters on Friday night and then an event re-cap Saturday night after the finals on classicproracquetball.com

[Steve Lerner]

The top seeds all reached the semi-finals on Friday at the Penfield Pro-Am. With two rounds played on Friday night the Penfield Racquet Club was filled with great racquetball highlighted by one of the best CPRT matches of the year as fourth seed Mike Ceresia came from behind to defeat fifth seed Mike Ray in a fifth game tiebreaker. Ceresia and Ray reached the quarters with wins over Jeff Hanno and Jeff Letendre. Top ranked Woody Clouse stopped Jeff Schuetz in three straight after Schuetz knocked out eighth seed Dave Spoleta in four. Second seed Ruben Gonzalez defeated Ted Pittanaro in three games following Pittinaro's win over Ron Corsaro in a long, tight four gamer. The upset of the first round was Matt Anderson over sixth seed Tom Mastrodonato in a quick three only to then go out in similar fashion courtesy of third seed Cliff Swain who started with a win over Ed Holmes. Semi-finals and finals are up for Saturday. Watch for an event re-cap Saturday night after the finals on classicproracquetball.com

[Steve Lerner]

The day opened with a tight and intense four game semi-final as Woody Clouse escaped a tough challenge from Mike Ceresia 9-7, 9-8, 4-9, 9-5 followed by a near equal battle as Cliff Swain stopped Ruben Gonzalez 9-4, 9-3, 5-9, 9-5. After a short break, Swain will have to face Clouse for the Penfield Pro-Am title.

[Steve Lerner]

Woody Clouse showed his toughness and best racquetball in a gutsy five game win over Cliff Swain to take the title at the Penfield Pro-Am for the second straight year.* After a solid start and 9-4 first game, Clouse was quickly behind 1-8 in the second only to work his way back to a 9-8 win. Swain came out strong in each of the next three games evening the match with two 9-4 games and taking a 6-2 lead in the tiebreaker. Clouse again came back first to 7-6 then it was Swain tying it at 7-7 before a couple of bad serves and side outs cost Swain the momentum and the match as Clouse finished the come back for the 9-7 victory. This match was an amazing display of power, drive serves, and athleticism that made all the Rochester fams remember these players in their best days.* Thanks to Alan Hanford, Keith Lopresto and all the sponsors for hosting another great Penfield Pro-Am* CPRT event.

[SIDEOUT]

Congratulations Woody! You make us old guys proud!

I am glad to see Cliff back in the Finals. I hope his nagging injuries are healed and he can get himself back into fighting shape soon. I suspect the grueling match he had with Ruben took it's toll.