EAST STROUDSBURG - The 2008 Pocono Open, a United States Tennis Association (USTA) prize money event which is being held this weekend at Split Rock Resort, will include a fundraiser to benefit the Dr. Charles Wolbers Memorial Scholarship Fund at East Stroudsburg University.

The tournament will feature tethered hot air balloon rides for $10 per person, sponsored by Vacation Charters and DFC & Associates, on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. The proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund in memory of longtime ESU tennis coach and Athletic Hall of Fame member Dr. Charles Wolbers.

The tennis action at Split Rock Resort gets underway with the opening rounds on Friday morning, continuing through the semifinals on Sunday at 10 a.m. and the finals at 2 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend one of the premier tennis events in the Poconos.

The top two finishers from last year, champion Clint Boling, formerly of Clemson, and runner-up Daniel Knause of Furman, are both returning this year. Also back are semifinalists Michael McGrath, formerly of Bloomsburg, and Tim Scott, who was also the recipient of the Dr. Charles Wolbers Sportsmanship Award.

The 2006 champion, Kiril Popov of Clarkes Summit, will be among a list of serious challengers. Notable local players include Justin Feiner, Greg Grimm, Brandon and Sam Lux, Jason Mathias, Jonathan Maula, Charles Twohig and Edward Zema.

The seeds, which were announced on Tuesday, are as follows: (1) Clint Boling, (2) Maksim Tikhomirov, (3) Timothy Scott, (4) Christopher Hasyn, (5) Michael McGrath, (6) Neil Caniga, (7) Jack Boling, (8) Cameron O'Donnell, and (9) Anthony Tunnero.

Other competitors in what promises to be a competitive field include Stanislav Faynberg (Thornhill, Ontario), Rodrigo Fraga (Sao Paolo, Brazil/Boston University) and Tariq Ismail (Chattanooga, Tennessee).

For more information, please contact tournament director George Wolbers at (570) 722-9111.