The top-two ranked players in the Prince George Tennis Club will return to compete in the Prince George Citizen Open Tennis Championships this weekend.
Kristian Kiland eclipsed James Nearing in a three-set tiebreaker to win the 2014 men's open singles title at the PGTC.
Kiland, who doubles as the coach and club manager, is a 20-year-old sophomore tennis player at Doane College in Crete, Neb., while Nearing is a club director. Both will be back on the hard court competing this weekend, as will club president Jim Condon.
"Jim will try to knock out one of those guys, but James has been inching closer," said PGTC vice-president Nathan Teegee.
In men's doubles, Christopher Li, a previous men's singles champion, will team up with Teegee. Condon will join his brother Kiland in another men's doubles tandem.
Teegee said the final number of players who will compete this weekend won't be known until registration closes Thursday at 5 p.m.
Besides men's beginner, intermediate and advanced singles and doubles, players are welcome to register in women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
The registration fee is $30 for one event, $40 for two events or $45 for all three events.
Registration can be done online at pgc.cc/1GXSfTB, or by calling the club at 250-564-5683, or emailing pgtennisclub@gmail.com.
First serves are expected to be delivered Friday at 6 p.m. and play will continue until 10 p.m. The tournament resumes Saturday at 9 a.m. and the men's singles final is expected to wrap up by 3 p.m. Sunday. The women's final will be played Sunday prior to the men's final.
So far this season, about 150 people have become members of the club and more are still welcome to join. Teegee said the goal is to get between 200 to 250 by the end of the season.
The PGTC is all set for its grand opening on June 27 to recognize everyone involved in the relocation of the courts in 2013. The weekend is also a chance to take to the hard courts for free. The normal drop-in fee is $5.
