Evening star., 1938-05-16
COUNTESS ENTERS
STARS NET EVENT
City of Washington Honors
Sought by Daughter Of
Belgian Diplomat.

Royalty entered The Evening Stars
tournament for women today In the
person of Countess Henrietta van der
Straten- -Ponthoz The 16-year-old
daughter of the Belgian Ambassador,
, the Countess currently is regarded as
one of the best netwomen at the Chevy
Chase Country Club. Indeed. she was
in Chevy Chase's lineup which this
morning met Columbia's Women's team
in an interclub match.
According to Don Watson, Chevy
Chase pro, Countess van der Straten-
Ponthoz is destined to be heard from
in tennis as well as diplomatic circles
this summer. From what she has
shown on the club courts she Is re-
puted to have the best service OF any
of Chevy Chase's fair members, and
that's taking in lot of territory. For
the Connecticut avenue club Is bank
ing upon such girls as Anne Ellis.
Msrgot Lee, Frances Carter and Mari
an Pritchard to carry its colors far
in The Star tournament.
Chevy Chase Players Improved.
Mrs. Pritchard is said to be much
improved player, and Miss Lee. no
slouch last year. came within game
of taking match from Miss Ellis
recently. Had not her fellow club
mates risen to challenge her, we would
have stood ready to put Miss Ellis in
the No. challenging position this
year, but such is not to happen, 1t
appears.
Even if Chevy Chase had no other
contenders. howl would be sure to go
up from Columbia and Army-Navy
we're their favorites left out Of consid-
Grafton.
For followers of Columbia are max
ing no bones about backing Elinor
Finckel. while ArIny-Navy can depend
upon Marge Robinson to lead the way
The Finckel lass incidentally, has
been one of the year-around racketers.
Disdaining cold weather, Elinor has
been on Columbia's courts almost every
day practically since the 1887 season
closed and her hackers faith does not
appear to be resting upon groundless
reasoning.
Who to Challenge Welsh?
Although the mems tournament
doesn't get under way until a week
from Saturday. discussion already has
arisen as to where might be the man
to challenge seriously Champion Bar
ney Welsh If Yelverton Garnett, the
University of Virginia 6-footer comes
home for the tournament, there is the
man. say some.
But did you know that there was a
well-knoWn player right here who beat
Big Bill no later than Saturday and
that he perenially is one to give the
big-timers a tussle? He is Tommy
Moorhead. another Chevy Chaser, who
is playing some of the best tennis of
his life.
Given break in the draw. Tom
my's friends are convinced that he
will be found in the late rounds of
any tournament he goes in this year.
Luck certainly wasn't with Moorhead
in The Star tourney last year when
he faced Welsh in the opening round.
Edgemoor Courts in Shape.
For a while there was some doubt
as to whether Edgemoor ever was to
fulfill the ideals expected of 1t as
club to which most of Washington's
strong men players belong. Probably
one-fifth the size of other local clubs,
both as to equipment and member
ship, the club last year and the year
before never was able to use all five
Of its courts at once, due to soft turf,
poor sodding. etc. But along about
the middle of last season the club
put Chet Adair in charge Of its courts.
He took to the task like a duck to
water An immediate improvement
was noted and this spring, for the
first time, all courts are being used
Another point for men to remem-
ber when they sign up for The Star
tournament