Outdoor Racquetball Championships : Brian Hawkes to Meet Dan Southern in Final

Brian Hawkes, the defending champion, advanced to the men’s pro division final of the National Outdoor racquetball championships with a 15-14, 15-8 semifinal victory over Mark Harding Saturday at Orange Coast College.

Hawkes, who has won the title five times previously, will meet Dan Southern, whom Hawkes beat in the final last year. Southern advanced by defeating Kevin Booth of Newport Beach, 15-13, 15-12.

Games, normally played to 21 points, were played to 15 Saturday because the tournament was behind schedule as a result of long matches.

“I felt like it was the first time I played well in the tournament,” Southern said. “I had really good focus for this match. That should help me for the match with Brian.”

Hawkes, 23, of Fountain Valley, and Southern, 33, of Huntington Beach, are the only players who have won the outdoor title in the 1980s. Hawkes won it from 1981 to 1984 and again last year. Southern won in 1980 and 1985.

The men’s final will be today at 1:30 p.m.

In the women’s pro division at 10 a.m., defending champion Martha McDonald will meet Marci Drexler in one semifinal, and Lynn Adams will play Theresa Nunn in the other. Adams and McDonald have met in the final the past five years, with Adams winning the first three and McDonald the last two.

The women’s final is today at 12:30 p.m.