Tennis: NBTC hosting Tennis Day with Pro Champions

Richard Dunn

In a crafty promotional skit, billed as “A Tennis Day with Pro

Champions,” the Newport Beach Tennis Club will host just that Saturday

with folks like Brian MacPhie, Scott Davis and Wayne Bryan (the father of

Mike and Bob).

“It should be fun,” said Davis, the former touring pro and now the

club’s Director of Tennis. “We’re giving a little back to the community.

(The event) is open to the public, and if somebody comes and they’re

interested in tennis and they want to become a member, then that’s great

... Wayne apparently is pretty good with the microphone, and he’s not

just Mike and Bob’s father, but their coach.”

The Bryan twins, who grew up competing against Geoff Abrams, the

former Newport Harbor High star, are ranked seventh in the world in

doubles, according to the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour

rankings.

The Tennis Day with Pro Champions starts at 10 a.m. with a clinic

featuring Wayne Bryan, who promises to provide some entertaining

instructions, including advice to parents andkids interested in tennis.

After the clinic is a pro exhibition match between Davis and MacPhie

(San Jose), currently ranked No. 8 in doubles on the ATP Tour with Mark

Knowles (Nassau, Bahamas). MacPhie is 31-16 this year and has won

$166,746.

In addition to a fast-serve contest, the event will include free

tennis drills and a clinic for members and non-members by the NBTC pro

teaching staff (Alvin Gardiner, Kevin Forbes, Dave Sherbeck and Debbie

Graham).

The event, Davis said, will conclude about 1:30 p.m. Details: (949)

644-0050.

For those who become serious tennis players, down the road in Newport

Beach this weekend is the 75th annual Pacific Southwest Senior Tennis

Championships at the Palisades Tennis Club.

Jim Nelson (Irvine), a member of the Daily Pilot Sports Hall of Fame,

captured two doubles titles in last year’s Pacific Southwest, winning

with Dick Leach (Laguna Beach) in the men’s 60s and Lenny Lindborg

(Laguna Beach) in the 65s.

In women’s divisions, Judy Louie (50s) and Norma Veal (60s) won their

respective singles championships at the Pacific Southwest, while Newport

Beach’s Carsten Hoffmann won the men’s 30s title.

The diamond anniversary edition of the Pacific Southwest features

players in age divisions from 25 through 85, with men’s, women’s and

mixed doubles.

Other local clubs, including the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club and

Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Club, are donating courts for the

Pacific Southwest. The tournament will spotlight some of the top senior

players in the nation, along with world champions such as Nelson, Bob

Duesler (Newport Beach) and Lindborg.

The Costa Mesa Tennis Center will host a United States Tennis

Association men’s Futures event Nov. 9-18, the first of three Southern

California stops for players on the USTA pro satellite circuit.

Qualifying for a draw of 128 players will be Nov. 9-12 in singles and

doubles, with the main draw scheduled to start Nov. 13 and run through

the weekend.

Following the $15,000 Costa Mesa stop, Malibu and Laguna Niguel are

hosting events, the last two tournaments on the USTA men’s Satellites and

Futures calendar.

Costa Mesa is replacing Palm Springs on the schedule. Details:

(714)557-0211.

The USTA Southern California Section is providing seminars on college

tennis scholarships, providing youngsters with an opportunity to learn

about the nuances of pursuing a tennis scholarship.

Because the process is complex, the section conducts the College &

University Scholarship Program at different Southern California locations

on different dates.

The local date is Sept. 26 at Palisades Tennis Club at 7:30 p.m.

Contact: Henry Hitchcock, (949) 644-6900.

All but one of the 16 girls teams in the second annual Corona del Mar

National High School All-American Tournament is from California.

But the field should be incredibly tough with Peninsula, CdM, Newport

Harbor, Harvard-Westlake, Beverly Hills, Palm Desert, Woodbridge and Troy

(last year’s CIF Southern Section Division II runner-up).

Broughton High of Raleigh, N.C., is the only team competing in the

tournament outside of California.