Locals rule at nationals

More than 200 players from 26 states are competing this week in the

national 65 and 70 men’s hardcourt tennis championships and the

Southern California Tennis Association sanctioned men’s 60 division

at the Lindborg Racket Club, but the high turnout hasn’t prevented

Newport-Mesa locals from rising to the top of the heap.

Newport Beach’s Bob Duesler is the No. 2 ranked singles player in

the 65 division and part of the No. 1 ranked doubles team in 65

doubles and has reached the quarterfinals in both.

In the 70 doubles competition, Dick Doss, also of Newport Beach,

and partner John Powless are the top seed and have advanced to the

semifinals with a pair of victories.

Others reaching the quarterfinals Thursday were Phillip

Degaillande of Costa Mesa and Hamilton Sah in 60 doubles and Costa

Mesa’s Bill Harader and partner Chris Bowen, also in 60 doubles.

Duesler has posted consecutive victories over Joe Trahan and Elmer

Mangrum, the latter the eighth seed in the 65 singles competition.

Duesler defeated Trahan 6-2, 6-2 Wednesday and downed Mangrum 6-1,

5-7, 7-5 Thursday. He is set to face the No. 7 seed Lloyd Goldwater

today at 11:30 a.m.

In 65 doubles, Duesler and Nelson played their first match

Thursday after a first-round bye and cruised past Ron Boone and Don

Neu 6-0, 6-4. They will meet No. 5 Henry Lancaster and John Roberts

in the quarterfinals today at 2:30 p.m.

Doss and Prowless also had a first-round bye in 70 doubles. They

went to work Wednesday with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Donald Bly and

Hollis Smith and made it look easy again Thursday with a 6-1, 6-3

over Fred Pessi and Neil Roberts. Doss and Prowless are set for a

semifinal match against No. 5 seed Roger Hing and Michael O’Hara

today at 2:30 p.m.

In 60 doubles, Degaillande and Sah are on the opposite side of the

bracket from Harader and Bowen. In their first matches Thursday,

Degaillande and Sah defeated Mark Dolansky and Bob Randolph 0-6, 6-4,

6-4 and Harader and Bowen won 6-4, 6-4. Degaillande and Sah will face

Lee Murray and Robert Royden, who had a first-round bye, today at 4

p.m. Frank Fulton and Fred Hardy, who also have a first-round bye

will play Harader and Bowen, also at 4 p.m.

Harader wasn’t as successful in the 60 singles competition. After

defeating Rocky Ford 7-6, 6-0 Wednesday, Harader fell to Wes Simmons,

6-4, 6-0, Thursday.

Earlier in the week, John Peterson of Newport Beach teamed with

Berk Eichel to knock off John Callaghan and Jerry Crimens in the 70

doubles bracket. But Peterson and Eichel fell to fourth-seeded Chuck

Nelson and Bob Isenberg Wednesday.