VALENCIA — Dave Barnes’ coaching goes a long way.

Two original Butler Country Club tennis program members from 1975 — Dick Yoder and Bruce Ralston — participated in the 12th annual Dave Barnes Member-Guest Invitational Sunday at the Lakevue Athletic Club.

Barnes was the first BCC tennis pro in 1975.

“John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors were great American players backthen. They were personalities who popularized tennis,” Barnes said. “The game was getting popular all over the country and the country club was no exception.

“In response, the club built the courts and started a program.”

Barnes estimated BCC’s original tennis program had 50 adults and 40 kids.The youth team grew as the kids got older.

“Their parents played, so the kids took up the game,” Barnes said.

Yoder, 77, teamed with Wyatt Geller in the eight-team round-robin doubles event. The duo won four of their seven matches. His grandson, Andrew Petcash, teamed with Thom Roberts to win the tournament. They were undefeated in seven matches.

“We were more of a social club than competitive,” Yoder recalled of BCC tennis in 1975. “Dave had a tennis social at the club every Friday night that was a lot of fun.

“McEnroe and Connors were my heroes. They were great players and such characters.”

While Yoder submits to his “deteriorating physical ability,” he continues to play tennis.

“There are such positive people in these events. I love being around them,” he said.

Ralston, 68, said he relies on his lobs and shot placement to compete against younger players today.

“I’ve always enjoyed tennis because it doesn’t take a whole lot of time and it’s great exercise,” Ralston said. “It’s a simple game and you can get a lot of games in within an hour and a half or so.”

The Barnes Invitational played 28 doubles matches on four courts in less than four hours.

Don Ansman, 74, has been a Butler Country Club member for three years. He still works as an architect.

He’s been playing tennis since he was a boy.

“I bought my first tennis racket with the money I made selling papers as a young boy,” Ansman said. “I love this game. It never leaves you.

“I still play twice a week here (Lakevue) and twice a week at the country club.”

Yoder’s daughter, former Butler High School tennis player Kristen Petcash, also participated in the Barnes Invitational.

“Our goal has always been to bring fun and unique tennis events to the club,” BCC club pro Whitney Snyder said. “This tournament is neat because there’s three generations of one family competing, all on different teams, and there’s such a wide range of ages out here.

“Tennis can bring people of all ages together for an event like this.”

Barnes said he is proud of how well Yoder, Ralston and others of their generation can still play the game.

“It’s a tribute to their desire to keep playing,” Barnes said. “And I’m sure tennis has helped keep them as physically fit as they are today.”

Kristen Petcash teamed with Al Novak while Ansman teamed with Trevor Heck. Ralston teamed with Hayden Moyer. Other doubles participating in the event were Alisa Green and Dylan Parda, Trent Goerk and Dana Bilowick, Jenny Ivory and Dave Parda.