By Boots Gifford
Havres Lance Reithmeier captured the mens open title at the first annual Navin Open racquetball tournament at the Northwinds Athletic Club which concluded Sunday.
More than 70 entrants from Montana and Canada competed in the three-day tournament which marked the opening of the 1999-2000 Montana Racquetball Association season.
Reithmeier downed Ron Brenna of Havre, 15-7, 15-10 for the open title.
Reithmeier claimed a second title paired with Boots Gifford of Havre in the mixed doubles event. Reithmeier and Gifford defeated Havres Butch Albertson and Susan Benner, 11-8, 11-3 in the final.
Benner was second in the womens B/C singles, dropping the final to Karla Kemm of Kalispell. Kemm won 13-15, 15-11, 11-2. Benner paired with Havres Emi Sasaki to win the womens doubles consolation final, 11-2, 11-3, over Anna Toner of Havre and Barbara Yahuah, Helena.
Albertson paired with Brenna to win the mens open/A doubles consolation final, 11-4, 11-10, over Bob Chalmers and Brian McDowell, both of Edmonton. Albertson was second with teammate Daryl Morse, Havre, in the mens B/C doubles. The Havre pair fell to Chalmers and Gerry Jensen, Edmonton, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5.
In the mens C singles, Jason Christianson, Havre, fought off Brian Jenkins, Havre, in a 15-6, 8-15, 11-8 final. Havres Kyle Lammerding earned the consolation title with a 15-3, 15-4 win over Chris McLaughlin, Havre.
Havres Steve Strand and Gary Baltrusch teamed to top the mens open/A doubles with an 11-8, 4-11, 11-2 win over Mike Churchill and Mike Churchill Jr., both of Helena.
Ty Hedlen topped the junior round-robin division, with Kyle Baltrusch second and Gary Wagner third. All three are from Havre.
