FAIRHOPE, Ala.  -- Tomas Catar, Mike Ford Tennis Center manager and tennis professional at Stimpson Park in Fairhope has been selected as the 2018 recipient of the United States Tennis Association Southern Tennis Professional of the Year Award.
This award recognizes a tennis professional in the Southern Section that demonstrates a significant contribution to the game of tennis through their promoting of the USTA programs and their support of the USTA Mission - To promote and develop the growth of tennis.
The official presentation will take place at the USTA Southern Annual Meeting during the J. Randolph Gregson Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, January 19 beginning at noon.
Catar is the only coach in Alabama awarded the Master of Tennis (Performance Coaching) title with Professional Tennis Registry. This certification is equivalent to highest International Tennis Federation coaching certification. The qualification matches the National Standards for Sports Coaches at the highest level, which is Level 5, and is recognized and endorsed by the United States Olympic Committee.
Other accomplishments/titles include:

•2016 Alabama PTR Tennis Professional of the Year
•National tester and workshop clinician for PTR national coaching certification workshops
•USTA Alabama Junior Competition Committee member
•Founder and director of the Gulf Coast Tennis Association, registered with USTA (non-profit community tennis association)
•Wilson Advisory Team member

The Mike Ford Center at Stimpson Park is located at Morphy Avenue and Mershon Street with the main entrance on Young Street.

For more information, call 251-990-9526. For more about the USTA, visit their website: See Related Link Below.