The 17th Annual Goodfellows Club Luke Woodward Classic tennis tournament begins Friday at Owensboro Tennis Complex.
The tournament, which began in 2002, was originally named Goodfellows Classic, but Luke Woodward’s name was added after he died from a brain aneurysm in 2003. The proceeds from the tournament go directly to the Goodfellows Club of Owensboro, which assists local schools with the items necessary to address children’s basic clothing and medical needs.
Singles play starts Friday at 6 p.m., and a few doubles matches will also begin on the first night.
“I have some doubles starting also because some of the draws are large, and I’m trying to keep everyone to only 2 matches in one day, if possible,” said tournament coordinator Janie Walther.
Divisions in the event are Open (United States Tennis Association ranked 4.5 or above), A (4.0), B (3.5) and C(3.0 or below), and they are for men and women singles as well as doubles and mixed doubles. Balls are furnished for final rounds only. Players are to have a can of balls for matches with the winner taking the unopened can.
The tournament currently has over 130 entries with players from all over the region — including Louisville and Bowling Green — but Walther hopes for more before the deadline.
Chris Brumley, the owner of Nicefloors, a national flooring wholesale business in Louisville has played in the tournament for the last three years and has sponsored all three. Brumley, a native of Owensboro, and his wife Janet both graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College. Three years ago, they came to Owensboro for his 35th class reunion weekend and while here, he wanted to play tennis.
“I called Centre Court and ended up playing in a clinic at the new facility,” said the 4.0-ranked Brumley. “I used to play in the soybean fields where Centre Court was built.”
On his second trip back to Owensboro, he and his wife, a 4.5-ranked player, went back to Centre Court, and that’s where he learned of the Luke Woodward tournament. Brumley knew the Woodward family and he knew of Goodfellow’s aid to the community. Brumley said that he immediately thought, “This will be perfect” of his desire to sponsor the tournament.
“I just felt compelled to participate,” Brumley said. “It is such a great excuse to come back to Owensboro. It’s so warm and peaceful environment. It’s such a great getaway. I plan to be a sponsor for a long time.”
Several area junior players use this tournament to gain knowledge in how to play competitively. There are several doubles and mixed doubles teams that have learned competitive play through area junior tennis programs and this is a local tournament they can showcase their knowledge.
Each participant will receive a T-shirt. Prizes will go to winners and finalists in all events.
