The Cataract & Laser Institute Tennis Tournament will kick off its seventh year today with first-round matches at the Southern Oregon Tennis Club.

The event features men's and women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles in 15 different divisions.

Today's matches begin at 12:30 p.m., with second-day matches beginning a 9 a.m. Saturday and the championship tilts starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The C.L.I. Tournament is the first event held at SOTC under new tennis director Jack Thompson, who started work nearly three months ago.

"Being the first tournament for me here in the area, I feel like the draw is fairly good," says Thompson, who came to SOTC from Vasalia, Calif. "My excitement is getting to know some of the playing populous in the area and getting an idea of what kind of players they are.

Advertisement

"(The tournament) is also good for the club."

The C.L.I. has steadily grown the last few years in size. Two years ago the draw was around 70.

Like past tournaments, this year's C.L.I. has a strong local flare.

Heading up the men's 4.5 singles will be top-seeded and defending champion Dan Perone of Ashland and No. 2 seed John Petersen of Medford.

Perone, a nine-time winner in the men's 40-and-over division at the Big Al's Tennis Tournament, should also get tested from his opening opponent Sammy Rawlins, who Perone defeated in last year's final.

North Medford High's David Longmire and Colt Hoeptner, Nic Millan (South Medford High) also help fill out the eight-person 4.5 draw.

The two women's singles divisions drew only nine total competitors.

"That seems to be the case in most tournaments," Thompson says of the low women's turnout. "A lot of tournaments just don't get a big number of women players."

Thompson sent flyers to clubs in Eugene and Portland in hopes of expanding the draw.

While it may have been too late in the game to attract much outside interest, Thompson still feels there is plenty of room for growth.

"We're going to try and market it better next year," Thompson says. "It's just a matter of knowing the area and getting more of a headstart on the tournament next year."

One way to do that, Thompson says, is possibly provide an open division in the future.

"We have a good sponsor but I think there's more room for growth," he says. "And I could envision, if we worked it right, adding a junior event to this, or branching out and maybe adding another venue.

"There are some things we could do and are planning on doing."

Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483, or e-mail kgoff@mailtribune.com