NBTA tennis player travels to Europe

Alex Stiteler is bound for Europe. The 13-year-old budding tennis star was recently chosen to play in two tournaments overseas.

Stiteler, who trains at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy at IMG Academies, is currently playing in the Aegon Teen Tennis tourney in Bolton, England. Then, she’ll head to France to play in the Les Petits As in the girls Under-14 division this coming weekend.

On Jan. 11, Stiteler won the Nike Junior Tour Sectional tournament in Tampa. It was Stiteler’s third year winning the tournament, and she’s now won the tourney in two different divisions.

MCHC still unbeaten

The Manatee County Hockey Club extended its undefeated record with a 12-4 victory over Sarasota on Jan. 13 at Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex.

The team made up of high school boys and girls extended its season-long win streak to 13. Wally Stern, Joey Ramey and Chase Anderson led the hockey club with two goals apiece, while Paul Lochner, Alex Grodoski, Michael Richardson, Zack Contrell, Mike Hirschauer and Ryan Curran each netted a goal.

The Manatee County Hockey Club has outscored its opponents this season by a combined tally of 109-30. The team returns to the frozen pond at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday when it plays Tampa Freedom High.

County golf championship

An alert to the folks who think they are the best golfers in Manatee County (we all know a couple people who think they wear that title).

The time to find out for sure has arrived.

River Wilderness Golf and Country Club is hosting the annual Manatee County Open Golf Championship on Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament is open to players of all ages, professional or amateur, and the format is individual stroke play. Women will play 90 percent of the yardage the men will play.

In the championship flight, the player with the lowest score after 36 holes will be declared the winner.

Cost to enter the tournament is $125 per person, which includes two tournament rounds, range balls and the prize purse of 1/3 of the field. The tournament is limited to 100 participants.

Go to www.riverwilderness.com for more information.

This is your time to prove your worth on the links.

Ryan T. Boyd, sports writer, can be reached at (941) 745-7017.