With a 6-0, 6-0 rout of No. 9 seed Marie Norris, Black barely broke a sweat in moving one step closer to a title. She is not, however, in uncharted territory, having won the Eddie Herr International Junior championship in the Under 16 division.

“I try to get the opponent tired,” said Black, who was forced out of action in the second round last year with a hip injury. “I’ve been working a lot on my fitness and mental game to be tougher than anyone out there.”

Black will be the favorite among a remaining quartet that includes No. 7 Ivana Jorovic of Serbia (6-1, 6-4 win over No. 3 Ana Konjuh), Chloe Ouellet-Pizer of Chapel Hill, N.C. (6-2, 6-3 over Ellie Halbauer), and No. 6 Katerina Stewart of Miami (6-0, 6-0 over Ye Qiuyu).

“The last two times I’ve played here I haven’t done so well so I’ve been very motivated this time,” Stewart said. “I’m pretty confident in my game right now.”

In the boys U14 circuit, it was another day chock-full of intense action, as the semifinal round will feature four Top 10-seeded players, three of whom defeated other seeded foes. That includes Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the No. 7 seed, who ousted No. 2 Cameron Klinger of San Jose, 6-1, 6-4.

“I played really solid today,” said Zverev, who had to battle through three sets in Tuesday’s round of 16. “I was down two match points in the second set yesterday, and to win such a match gives you confidence.”

Joining Zverev in the semis will be No. 9 Seongchan Hong of Korea, who knocked off No. 16 Tommy Paul of Greenville, N.C., 6-0, 6-4; No. 6 Alejandro Tabilo of Canada, who beat unseeded Socrates Tsoronis, 6-4, 6-4; and No. 4 Stefan Kozlov of Pembroke Pines, who needed three hard-fought sets to edge Washington’s Henrik Wiersholm, the No. 5 seed, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-4.

The finals are set in the boys 12 & under field, as both the quarterfinals and semifinals took place on Wednesday. Top-seeded Artem Dubrivnyy of Russia will square off with unseeded qualifier Albert Lim of the Phillipines tomorrow at Salvadore Park at 9 a.m.

Dubrivnyy beat No. 6 Ergi Kirkin in the semifinals, 6-1, 6-0, after winning 7-5, 7-5 over Juan Otegui in the quarters. Lim defeated No. 2 seed Alexander del Corral of Doral in the day’s big upset, 6-2, 6-1, then won over No. 9 Noah Makarone by the same score in the semis.

And in the girls 12 & under, two of the three remaining No. 1 seeds fell, leaving only Catherine Bellis of Atherton, Calif., among seeded players. Bellis defeated fellow No. 1 seed Sofia Zhuk of Russia, 6-1, 6-0, while Riley McQuaid of Tustin, Calif., knocked off No. 1 seed Vanessa Wong, 6-4, 6-3.

Nicole Conrad of Tyler, Texas (6-4, 7-6(4) over Andreea Rosca) and Claire Liu of Thousand Oaks, Calif. (7-5, 6-2 over Ana Biskic) also advanced.

The boys and girls U14 semifinal matches will be played tomorrow at the University of Miami Tennis Center, along with the girls U12 semis.

Upcoming USTA Campus Showdowns, Campus Kids Days in Florida

USTA Campus Showdown logoThe new year will debut with multiple opportunities for Florida tennis players to test their skills against a wide variety of opponents during USTA Campus Showdowns, and to bring the kids to participate in and watch college matches during USTA Campus Kids Days.

Upcoming USTA Campus Showdowns (men’s and women’s):
Jan. 21, 2012 — University of North Florida, Jacksonville; contact: audracohen@gmail.com

Upcoming USTA Campus Kids Days:
Jan. 28, 2012 — Jacksonville University at University of Central Florida (men’s), Orlando, 12:30 p.m.; contact: cberryhill@athletics.ucf.edu
Feb. 18, 2012 — Florida Atlantic at University of North Florida (men’s), Jacksonville, noon; contact: adam.schaechterle@unf.edu
Feb. 29, 2012 — Lander at University of West Florida (men’s), Pensacola, 3:30 p.m.; contact: dracine@uwf.edu

USTA Campus Showdowns are fun, competitive one-day events held on college campuses that are open to all — college and high school players, juniors, adults, league players and weekend hackers. Singles and doubles are usually offered at the events, which give junior and college players opportunities for varied competition and a chance to see college campuses and college life. The events also help the host colleges build stronger ties between college programs and the local tennis community.

USTA Campus Kids Days are designed to expose current and aspiring junior players (and their parents and coaches) to college tennis — food and refreshments are provided, and fans are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities such as raffles, contests, racquet stenciling, autograph signings, clinics, etc.

For more information on individual events contact the organizer e-mails listed above.

USTA Florida, USTA Magazine Goes Digital in 2012; Tennis 15-30.com to Debut

December marked the last print issue of the national USTA Magazine. The regional USTA Florida Section magazine will also debut in 2012 as digital, and feature a combination of digital and print issues throughout the year.

Prior to the 2012 Australian Open, the USTA in partnership with Tennis.com will launch Tennis 15-30.com, which during each Grand Slam event will feature five editions with e-mail alerts for USTA members. Then beginning in February, the bi-monthly edition will debut, to be distributed on the 15th and 30th of each month to USTA members.

Each month one issue will be dedicated to “on the court” coverage, while the other will focus on health and wellness.

The USTA Florida Section magazine will debut next year with a January/February 2012 digital edition.

To keep up with the latest tennis news go to www.ustaflorida.com.

Seeded 15th in the girls’ 18-under division, Plantation’s Alexandra Kiick represented her hometown. Kiick reached the semifinals of the doubles competition and earned one victory in the main singles draw.

“The players in the competition were strong and more mature at this level and it was a good learning experience,” said Kiick, who was ousted in the second round of the singles draw. “The doubles match was tough because we were just a point away from a win and reaching the finals. The competition was great and I learned a lot and what I need to do to get better.”

Kiick defeated Ioana Ducu 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the opening round of the singles draw. In the second round, she dropped the contest 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 to Varvara Flink, of Russia.

The up-and-coming tennis standout previously won the 2010 Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship in the girls’ 16-under division. In 2011, she won her first professional title on the clay courts in Amelia Island at the USTA Pro Circuit $10,000 event.

She also had a strong performance at the Eddie Herr Tournament in Bradenton leading up to the Orange Bowl event.

Kiick will look to continue to work on her game in upcoming tournaments after the New Year, including a professional event in Innisbrook, and a USTA event in Plantation.

Kiick comes from an athletic family. Her father, Jim, was a former football star for the Miami Dolphins. Kiick, who formerly attended American Heritage School in Plantation, had been a top contributor for the Patriots.

She has been home-schooled since last year and now trains full-time at the USTA Training Center headquarters in Boca Raton.

“The coaches really work hard with me and the training is tough,” Kiick said. “I am working on the mental part of the game and I am giving a lot of effort to reach my goals.”

Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, won the girls’ 18s singles title and Dominic Thiem, of Austria, won in the boys’ 18s singles division. Canada’s Erin Routliffe captured the girls’ 16s singles crown and Korea’s Hyeon Chung took the boys’ 16s singles championship.

The Doral Publix Junior Golf Classic begins Sunday, and tournament director Charlie DeLucca Jr. has many fond memories from the event’s 30-year history.

One is presenting the trophy in the 8- to 9-year-old division in 1998 to Rory McIlroy, who had just won his first tournament on U.S. soil. McIlroy of Northern Ireland is No. 2 in the world and the current U.S. Open champion.
Was that DeLucca’s best moment? Not even close. In fact, the really important moments don’t have anything to do with golf.
“The tournament is not about becoming a golf pro,” DeLucca Jr. said. “It’s about becoming a good person.”
DeLucca’s son, Charlie III, who helps run the event, said, “Do we get tour players out of this tournament. Absolutely. We get lucky. But we focus on teaching these kids life skills, and golf is our avenue. We don’t live and die with golf. A PGA player is the aftereffect.”
The DeLuccas have a perfect example of that at the tournament this year. His name is Joel Thame, 33, and he played in the tournament before graduating from college and becoming a successful businessman in Georgia.
“He didn’t even do particularly well in this tournament,” DeLucca Jr. said with a laugh.
However, because of the impression the DeLuccas and golf left on him, Thame drives from Georgia to Miami every year to help out at the event.
“Basically, I’m a gopher,” Thame said. “I’ll do anything it takes to make this thing go. He [Charlie Jr.] told me, ‘Joel, if you ever make it, you have to give back. If you don’t make a contribution to society and invest in young people, it’s wrong.’ He has taught me so much as a mentor and a person.”
DeLucca’s words had a way of sticking with Thame — and many others. The father of another former player in the tournament drives from Ohio to lend a hand. Another person, who used to chase range balls, came back and donated $5,000 recently.
The DeLuccas hope to keep core values as the foundation for the tournament, which has grown into the world’s largest junior international event with more than 700 entrants.
This year’s edition at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa will begin with the 13-and-under divisions Sunday and Monday.
On Tuesday, there will be a Challenge Cup, with Florida players taking on opponents from five New England states. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday there will be the 14-15 and 16-18 boys and girls playing.
In the tournament, which is free to the public, there are 42 countries and 38 U.S. states represented. Entry into the tournament is not particularly easy because it is based upon both golf handicap and grade-point average.

“We’re trying to teach more than golf,” DeLucca Jr. said.

On Monday, the company that owns Doral Golf Resort & Spa will be in the New York bankruptcy court to seek approval to put the Florida resort on the auction block.

Donald Trump’s hotel group has offered to buy the resort for $150 million, down from an initial offer of $170 million. At Monday’s hearing, the Trump group will seek permission to serve as the lead, or stalking-horse, bidder at the auction.

Doral is owned by hedge fund Paulson & Co. and Winthrop Realty Trust (FUR), which placed the well-known Miami-area golf venue into Chapter 11 protection in February along with four other luxury resorts.

Under the deal with the Trump group up for court review next week, Doral’s owners are free to shop the 692-room resort and to consider competing bids from purchasers who want to keep Marriott International Inc. (MAR) as the resort’s manager. The Trump organization plans to reject a management agreement with Marriott and run the resort itself.

The court next week also will consider up to $1.5 million in expense reimbursements and a $4.5 million “topping” fee for the Trump group if it’s not the winning bidder for the property. The proposed auction rules call for Doral’s owners to kick off a 60-day marketing period for the property once the court approves the stalking-horse arrangement with the Trump group.

The trustee winding down Bernard Madoff’s investment firm Wednesday will ask the New York bankruptcy court to approve a settlement he struck with the Internal Revenue Service that would bring in $326 million for victims of Madoff’s massive Ponzi scheme.

The deal, inked by trustee Irving Picard, concerns tax payments Madoff made in order to give his business “an air of legitimacy.”

Tax laws require a 30% withholding income paid out to nonresident aliens and foreign corporations. Since the beginning of 2003, Picard said Madoff and his firm paid out about $330 million to the IRS on behalf of 145 foreign account holders who reportedly received dividends on their investments with Madoff.

But because Madoff was running a fraudulent investment scheme, he wasn’t actually paying the foreign investors the dividends that would set off the tax withholding requirements.

Under the settlement between Picard and the IRS, the trustee will release the IRS from any further liability with regard to the tax payments. Picard will also continue pursuing pending claims against a handful of foreign investors to whom the IRS erroneously paid $4.2 million in tax refunds.

On Wednesday, scandal-marred solar-panel manufacturer Solyndra LLC will ask the Wilmington, Del., bankruptcy court to extend its control over its Chapter 11 case while it works to find a buyer to restart its California plant.

The company failed to attract bids last month to purchase and restart the company’s operations, but Solyndra is trying again and has set a January deadline for bids. The company is seeking to keep exclusive control over its Chapter 11 case through early April while it awaits the results of the new round of bidding.

Solyndra has requested an extension through April 3 of the sole right to file a Chapter 11 creditor-payment plan. Such an extension would prevent creditors or other interested parties from filing a plan on the company’s behalf while it works to find a buyer.

Solyndra, the recipient of a $535 millionDepartment of Energy loan guarantee, filed for Chapter 11 protection in September after laying off its workers and shutting down its plant. The bankruptcy filing and subsequent FBI search of the company’s offices launched a political tennis match over the Obama administration’s handling of the loan guarantee.

The Dixie Amateur, now in its 81st year, will have a full field of 240 golfers when it begins Monday at Heron Bay Golf Club and Woodlands Country Club.

One day later, the first South Beach International Amateur tees off with 166 golfers at Miami Beach Golf Club and Normandy Shores GC.

Add it up, and that’s more than 400 top amateurs — local, state, national and international — in town for competition.

“Needless to say, there’s a large contingent of top-flight players spending part of December in South Florida,” said Jeff Hunt, the SBIA’s executive director.

“Between the two of us, we’ve got 19 or 20 countries [represented]. So we’ve got a representative from probably every country that has serious golf going in it.”

And that doesn’t factor in the Doral Publix Junior Classic, billed as the world’s largest junior tournament with nearly 700 entrants taking over Doral Golf Resort & Spa starting Saturday, or the JuniorOrange Bowl International that follows in Coral Gables.

“So you’re actually talking about four great tournaments where some of the finest PGA Tour pros have played,” Hunt said.

The arrival of the South Beach International — and its subsequent date overlap — brings a new twist to the scene.

Heron Bay, which owns the Dixie, and Woodlands were acquired last winter by ClubLink, which operates more than 40 properties in Canada and Florida. But ownership transfer took longer than expected, leaving the Dixie’s status uncertain.

In stepped Miami Beach, with two courses to showcase and hopes of creating a world-class event on the strand. Hunt, who had run the Dixie for the past three years, was hired away to spearhead the startup.

When the Dixie’s affairs were settled, both had staked out the same week on the calendar. Despite initial concerns about enough players to go around, though, both are happy with their fields.

“When you have 22 past participants in the Dixie that have won on the PGA Tour, that helps,” said Dave Salerno, the Dixie’s new director.

Trump had planned to buy Doral for $170 million. But when the time for investigation lapsed in late November, his New York-based company signed a new deal, with the price cut to $150 million, Bloomberg said.

Doral’s owner filed papers in bankruptcy court Dec. 2 for approval of procedures to hold an auction to learn if someone else will pay more than Trump. If outbid, Trump will earn a $4.5 million breakup fee, said Bloomberg.

Trump told the SunSentinel in October that he planned to invest more than the purchase price to restore the Doral property to “its original health.”

Doral is home to a prestigious PGA golf tournament played each spring on the Blue Monster course.

In buying Doral, Trump’s company will take over an aging resort with nearly 700 rooms, plus four of its five   professional golf courses. Trump said he has no plans to add residences to the project west of Miami International Airport.

The Doral Chamber of Commerce, the best chamber in Miami listed as number 25 on South Florida Business Journal’s Book of Lists – Doral Chamber of Commerce Top 25 Chambers in South Florida

One of the Best Chambers in South Florida, the Doral Chamber of Commerce provides marketing services for it’s members. “Your New Marketing Right Hand”, the Doral Chamber of Commerce is committed to assisting area businesses create new revenue sources, helping the city meet the needs of it’s residents and business partners, and assisting individuals to meet their personal needs and desires.

“We provide events such as Speed Networking, Quickbooks and other business courses, Social Media, Search Engine Optimization SEO and Internet Marketing Courses.

Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce was first, number 1 ranked chamber on the South Florida Business Journal’s annual list of the Top 25 Chambers of Commerce has 5,000 members. All the chambers in the top 10 have 1,000 members or more.

The Doral Chamber of Commerce is one of the most practical chambers in Florida, due to it’s practical networking opportunities, business opportunities and marketing opportunities.

The other great chambers in Miami include The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, www.miamichamber.com , the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce , www.miamibeachchamber.com , the Miami Dade County Chamber of Commerce , www.miamidadecountychamber.com , and the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce , www.gogaymiami.com .

These chambers provide real tools for businesses to grow by providing networking opportunities and business to business marketing.  Join the Doral Chamber of Commerce today or any one of the chambers mentioned above and your business will grow!

The Doral Chamber of Commerce is committed to assisting area businesses create new revenue sources, helping the city meet the needs of it’s residents and business partners, and assisting individuals to meet their personal needs and desires.

The conference, to be held on the eve of Florida’s Republican presidential primary, is geared toward conservative Hispanic voters.

Organizers are billing the conference as “the ideal platform for future presidential candidates, elected officials and community leaders to engage with the Hispanic community.”

The conference, to be held on the eve of Florida’s Republican presidential primary, is geared toward conservative Hispanic voters.

Organizers are billing the conference as “the ideal platform for future presidential candidates, elected officials and community leaders to engage with the Hispanic community.”

]]> http://realestateempire.com/jeb-bush-carlos-gutierrez-to-lead-hispanic-leadership-network-conference-in-doral/feed 0 http://realestateempire.com/american-heritage-patriots-share-winning-tradition http://realestateempire.com/american-heritage-patriots-share-winning-tradition#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:18:34 +0000 admin http://realestateempire.com/?p=528 There is an exciting new feel inside the American Heritage gym this season. Light appears to bounce off the refurbished floor. Before too long, fresh paint and a new Patriots logo will spruce up worn looking walls.

With a deep and talented supporting cast complementing star guard Raigyne Moncrief, the ideal finishing touch on the Patriots’ makeover would be a state championship banner.

The return of Moncrief, a Class 5A Player of the Year candidate, Villanova 6-3 signee Brandi Teague (11ppg, 10 rpg), along with the additions of All-County guard Symone Bullard and high-energy Arkeba Johnson have sparked title talk.

“Last year it was between Brandi and I,” Moncrief said. “We had to do everything. Now we have Symone and Arkeba coming in. There is no pressure on me. In the fourth quarter I can dish it off. I know my teammates will have my back.”

Although second-year coach Natalya Kossenko will have a bench that goes 10 deep, it will be Moncrief driving the Patriots as far as they are going to go.

Explosive in the open floor, Moncrief has improved an inconsistent jump shot and is ready to build on a sophomore campaign in which she averaged 15 points, nine rebounds, 3.5 assists, and four steals to earn Broward Player of the Year.

“Raigyne can pretty much do it all,” Kossenko said. “The scary part is she is just getting better. She has no problem taking a team on her back. From the way she puts in the time and effort in practice to the work ethic in the gym. Then to translate that to the classroom. She’ll be doing a lot for us. Except she has a little bit more help this year.”

In addition to Teague in the post, Bullard (who averaged 15 points, four rebounds and two steals per game last season), Johnson and Konshauntiel Spicy, Moncrief also can look for Britashia Burns, a 6-2 junior.

Burns, who missed last season with an ACL injury, scored a game-high 15 points in a 52-48 road victory over defending Class 2A champions Community School of Naples on Monday.

Heritage has to look no further than new District 16-5A rival Dillard, the two-time defending and six-time state champion, as its biggest roadblock to Lakeland. Dec. 10 already has been circled on the calendar. That’s when the Panthers, led by Kayla Wright, visit American Heritage. On Jan. 7, the Patriots travel to Dillard.

“Most people think that Dillard is going to win,” Teague said. “We respect them, but we look forward to the challenge.”

Dillard headlines a schedule that should prepare Hertiage for the state playoffs.

There are also matchups against Class 1A champion Hollywood Christian and two-time state champion Miramar Parkway.

Kossenko said how far the Patriots advance will depend heavily on their willingness to share the ball.

“We’re going to need to play as a team,” she said. “We have girls that can put up 20 points a game, but we are not going to average 100. … If they can learn to share and work together as one, we will be successful.

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