Notable pros to watch at Pictona
DALLAS, TX - With Nationals officially in the rearview mirror, the PPA Tour heads to Daytona Beach, FL for the Hertz Gold Cup.
Here are some notable pros to watch as the action heats up at Pictona:
Jaume Martinez Vich – Men’s Singles
Martinez Vich earned a silver medal at Nationals with victories over several notable pros, including Pablo Tellez, second-seeded Tyson McGuffin, and Hunter Johnson, before falling to JW Johnson in three hard-fought games on Championship Sunday. The Spaniard oozes with charisma and passion on the court, and he definitely earned some new fans at Brookhaven Country Club eager to see where he will place in Daytona.
Pablo Tellez – Men’s Doubles
Tellez has a special connection to Daytona Beach and this particular venue because he won bronze at the Red Clay Hot Sauce Florida Open in March to secure his first singles medal on the PPA Tour.
Tellez has advanced to Championship Sunday on several occasions, earning silver medals alongside Federico Staksurd in Denver and Seattle. The two are pairing up again in the Sunshine State, and given their history of success together, they could make some noise.
Lacy Schneemann and Jade Kawamoto – Women’s Doubles
Schneemann and Kawamoto have already made it to Championship Sunday once before in Florida, defeating Lea Jansen and Allyce Jones.
Schneemann recently placed fourth in women’s doubles alongside Vivienne David at Nationals, and Kawamoto earned bronze with Anna Bright.
Given their success last weekend, the pair appear hungry for another win.
Lina Padegimaite - Women’s Singles
Lina Padegimaite shows a level of consistency that’s pivotal to enjoying success, having previously earned quarterfinal berths in Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Kansas City, and San Clemente. She most recently competed against Megan Fudge in the quarterfinals at Nationals. Coming from a tennis background, Padegimaite is already strong on the court.
Hayden Patriquin and Maggie Brascia - Mixed Doubles
Eighteen-year-old Hayden Patriquin will pair up with Maggie Brascia, who won silver in women’s doubles at Nationals.
The duo battled JW Johnson and Jorja Johnson in Texas, threatening an upset after dominating two games. Though the Johnsons came back to win, Patriquin and Brascia looked strong, making their mark on the mixed doubles bracket as an unsuspecting duo with the potential to get stronger. An upset could be in their future in Daytona.
With every tournament there’s new possibilities for upsets, rematches, and runaway wins. And with these pros still feeling strong after Nationals, this weekend is destined for some excellent match ups.
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