Champions | Finalists | Big Screw | |
2007 | |||
2008 | Jamie Ford/Kevin Jernigan | Bill O’Leary/Sam Bradley | - |
2009 | Chris Sheldon/Ross Revenaugh | Sean Gaherty/George Corrigan | - |
2010 | Rob Gibbons/Ned Lanphier | Field Pickering/Nick Barquin | - |
2011 | Dominic DaprileSam Bradley | Rob Gibbons/Zandy Smith | - |
2012 | Jamie Ford/Kevin Orphan | Ben Andrew/Scott Matagrano | - |
2013 | Field Pickering/Kevin Orphan | - | |
2014 | Eric Pearson/Duncan Pearson | Austin Clark/Sarah West | - |
2015 | Alex Kurth/Lance Minor | Preston Comey/Jeff Young | Peter Hansen |
2016 | Kenny Chan/Dan Judd | Bo Jamison/Taylor Lanier | Greg Werntz |
2017 | Verdi DiSese/Bobby Dickey | Ross Revenaugh/John Stewart | Busani Xaba |
2018 | Kevin Orphan/David Ford | Verdi DiSese/Bobby Dickey | |
2019 | Porter Drake/Niko Hrdy | ||
2020 | Brett Camarda/Kenny Chan |
******
Ninth Annual Left Coast Doubles
hosted in San Francisco, 2015
by Rob Gibbons
On Thursday evening, the ninth annual Left Coast Doubles Invitational commenced at San Francisco's University Club with the usual social gusto fueled by 8 years of history and a solid string of first round matches.
Drawing a total of thirty-one teams from a host of cities across North America - Vancouver, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, and as far away as the Far East (to name a few - a wonderful assembly of enthusiastic players) met to join in San Francisco's celebratory version of squash doubles.
On Friday, the Olympic Club graciously hosted the opening rounds of the Least Coast (Consolation Round), a title which is considered by all to be as important and played in the same sporting spirit as the Left Coast main draw. The Canadian/American team of Michael Leckie and Dom Daprile went on to capture this title later in the weekend by defeating Luke Ogelsby and Michael Strong.
Matches at the University Club were enjoyed by a over-flowing crowd and, for the first time in Left Coast history, and understandably, the first keg of Lagunitas Pale Ale was finished before 5pm on Friday afternoon.
Well-lubricated and riled by a rousing match between Scott Matagrano / Robert Gibbons versus Alex Kurth / Lancelot Minor, the gallery could be heard roaring to the far reaches of the Pacific Union Club on the top of Nob Hill. The unflappable Matagrano and Gibbons deftly re-directed their attack to the right-wall because try as they might, they were unable to over-power and out-maneuver a strong left wall force.
Kurth and Minor eventually prevailed and went on to win their next match after defeating Ogelsby and Strong in the first round.
Following the competition for the day, an impromptu group dinner in the backroom of the venerable Perry’s was eagerly assembled. Amongst the several toasts during the evening, Steve Frank’s discourse on the agricultural pastimes of the Scotsman stood out and became the most memorable.
Play began bright and early on Saturday morning with Lanphier / Xaba and Daprile / Smith match scheduled at the ungodly hour of 8am!
By lunchtime, the hangers-on from the previous night gradually assembled in the gallery, clutching precious glasses of Chardonnay in hopes of staving off the impending hangover. Conspicuously, the skillful and notorious Eric Pearson was nowhere to be found. It was later revealed that his unexpected absence was due to a yet-to-be-diagnosed food allergy suffered at some point during the night before.
Due to this turn of events, as well as having a first-round bye, the team of Lucy Ross / Eric Pearson accomplished an unprecedented feat in the playing of the Left Coast by not making a single on-court appearance. Never-the-less, Lucy’s wonderful off-court demeanor throughout the tournament more than compensated for the tandem's on-court absence and her company was enjoyed by all. The players hope that she will join the tournament next year.
By lunchtime, the hangers-on from the previous night gradually assembled in the gallery, clutching precious glasses of Chardonnay in hopes of staving off the impending hangover. Conspicuously, the skillful and notorious Eric Pearson was nowhere to be found. It was later revealed that his unexpected absence was due to a yet-to-be-diagnosed food allergy suffered at some point during the night before.
Due to this turn of events, as well as having a first-round bye, the team of Lucy Ross / Eric Pearson accomplished an unprecedented feat in the playing of the Left Coast by not making a single on-court appearance. Never-the-less, Lucy’s wonderful off-court demeanor throughout the tournament more than compensated for the tandem's on-court absence and her company was enjoyed by all. The players hope that she will join the tournament next year.
As the draw continued to narrow, Berkeley Revenaugh and Sarah West’s ploy of wearing matching outfits along with their coordinated costume changes, successfully confused and intimidated their opponents throughout the tournament as their clever strategic play led to their domination of team after team.
Late in the day, Revenaugh / West finally met their match coming against the formidable team of Preston Comey / Jeff Young. They were narrowly able to overcome the matching dynamic duo.
Despite having endured playing three matches that day, the final foursome gathered at the appointed hour of 6pm on the main court for the gladiatorial championship match. In what one club stalwart called, “the greatest upset of the San Francisco squash scene”, Kurth and Minor smote the team of Comey / Young in three games.
In hindsight, the outcome of the final match could have been predicted.
Preceding the final round, by some accounts, Comey was found preparing himself by horizontally lying on the locker room couch - Wall Street Journal in hand while watching golf on TV.
To conclude the weekend, the Saturday night dinner was held at Izzie’s Steak House - a traditional San Francisco haunt which accommodated the group well with a private dining room and bar.
First time tournament participant and Left Coast Winner, Lancelot Minor, thrilled the enraptured group with the presentation of “The Nail” to fellow competitor Peter Hansen along with a reading of a Japanese haiku which aptly embodied the spirit of the weekend.
Following the lengthy dinner, the cable-knit-sweater-clad-crowd made their way to yet another popular venue - the patio of The Balboa Cafe where drinks were spilled, laughs had, and good-will abounded. All in all, it was without fail, a Left Coast for the record books. The hosts look forward to a strong showing in 2016.
First time tournament participant and Left Coast Winner, Lancelot Minor, thrilled the enraptured group with the presentation of “The Nail” to fellow competitor Peter Hansen along with a reading of a Japanese haiku which aptly embodied the spirit of the weekend.
Following the lengthy dinner, the cable-knit-sweater-clad-crowd made their way to yet another popular venue - the patio of The Balboa Cafe where drinks were spilled, laughs had, and good-will abounded. All in all, it was without fail, a Left Coast for the record books. The hosts look forward to a strong showing in 2016.
******
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