After many tries, Bob Cofer has finally reached the top of his division in the U.S. Tennis Association’s New England Rankings. Cofer, owner and general manager of Pinewoods, ends the 2016 season ranked #1 in the 4.5 Singles Division. Despite often facing players half his age, Cofer finished 135 points ahead of his closest competitor in the year-end rankings. During the year, Cofer won five tournaments and posted a 15-4 match record. One of his best wins came against Michael Lombardi in the finals of the New Milford Open in September. “The past two years, I went into the last tournament ranked #1 only to lose in that tourney and drop to #2”, he said. “I began wondering if I was ever going to finish #1. I guess perseverance paid off”.