ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 23, 1996 TAG: 9602230076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
The banners draped around the room read ``Welcome to Hunting Hills.'' The message to the United States Tennis Association, though, was ``Welcome Back to Hunting Hills.''
After taking a year off to secure more financial backing and more prize money, local organizers have brought the USTA back to Roanoke in a big way. It was officially announced Thursday that the $25,000 USTA Women's Challenger of the Roanoke Valley will be played July 28-Aug.4 at Hunting Hills Country Club.
This will be the eighth time the tournament has been held in the Roanoke Valley since 1988. It was held every year from 1988-94 before the decision was made to take last year off.
``We're back,'' exclaimed tournament director John Barker. ``We should be better than ever.''
The tournament is more lucrative than ever. Previous USTA tournaments in Roanoke carried a $10,000 purse. The increased winnings for this year's tournament are a result of the Salem/Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce assuming much of the fund-raising and marketing duties.
``The chamber is doing what it does best, and that's lining up sponsors,'' said Rick Poplstein, president of the Salem/Roanoke County Chamber. ``John is doing what he does best, and that's actually putting on the tournament. I think with all of us working, we'll be very successful.''
It was announced on Thursday that Lewis-Gale Medical Center will be the tournament's major sponsor.
Through the years, the tournament has attracted top junior and college players. In 1989, Mary Pierce, one of the top women's players in the world who won last year's Australian Open, won her first prize money as a 13-year-old when she won the doubles title at Hunting Hills.
Barker said he'll know who will be playing in this year's tournament sometime in late June.
``A lot of girls who played here are in the top 50 now,'' he said. Because of the increased prize money, ``we should have higher-ranked players and a high caliber of tennis.''
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