ANNA MONICA

PHOTO: BELLE TERRE COUNTRY CLUB recently held its Spring Kickoff Tournament. With head tennis professional Jason Pinholster are tournament winners, from left, Janis Ducote, Meg Spatz, Dani Shackelford, Karen McGaff and Carol Vicknair. (Photo by Anna Monica) LAPLACE – The signs of spring in the area prompted Belle Terre tennis pro Jason Pinholster to sponsor the first tennis tournament of the year at Belle Terre Country Club. The tournament, a round robin event in which players competed with different partners in a random drawing, filled an entire Saturday early in March. At a time of year where so many activities command time and attention, the turnout of eager players was very satisfactory with the players having a considerable amount of time on the court. An open tournament, at which anyone was welcome to play, most competitors came from Belle Terre or Riverlands but several outside of the clubs also took part. Food was available throughout the day, beginning with a breakfast layout provided by Kim Pinholster, player and wife of the tennis pro. Kim also prepared a various of selection of food for lunch and desserts. Players could eat and/or rest throughout the day in the Belle Terre upstairs tennis shop. Pinholster had divided the players into Group I and Group II and winners were identified by the total amount of games won. Janis Ducote of LaPlace was top winner in Group II with Nathalie Reeves coming in second. Annie Stell came in a close third. Group I winner was Carol Vicknair of Riverlands and after a playoff with Dani Schakelford and Meg Spatz, Karen McGaff won second place. First and second place winners were awarded prizes specially prepared for them. The annual Heart Fund Tournament will be the next one played on the Belle Terre tennis courts Saturday. Nathalie Robottom is the president of the local Heart Fund Association and former president, Nathalie Tatje, is organizing the tennis tournament which is also open to everyone.