NEWPORT BEACH TENNIS : The Pros Hold Off Pros-to-Be to Win Men’s Doubles Final

Tim Pawsat and Robert Van’t Hof, two established pros, held off Trevor Kronemann and Richard Lubner, two pros in waiting, 6-4, 6-4, to win the Children’s Hospital of Orange County doubles tournament Sunday at the John Wayne Tennis Club in Newport Beach.

Pawsat flew to Rome immediately after the match to play in the men’s Italian Open. Van’t Hof has an exhibition match at La Costa next weekend, a TeamTennis promotion in Sacramento the following week, then he will be off to England for a tournament.

It may be that way soon for Kronemann and Lubner, seniors at UC Irvine. Both will turn pro after playing in the NCAA tournament, which begins Friday at Indian Wells.

Kronemann called Sunday’s loss a learning experience.

“It’s great to come out and play these guys,” he said. “It’s a great warmup for the NCAAs.”

Pawsat and Van’t Hof served just a little better and even managed to slow Kronemann, known as much for his girth (6-foot-3, 228 pounds) as for his hard-hit volleys.

After breaking Kronemann’s serve for a 4-3 lead in the second set, Van’t Hof held serve in a game that went to deuce six times.

“If we lose that game we might lose the match,” Van’t Hof said. “We really had to dig down.”

Kathy May Paben and Stephanie Rehe won the women’s final, 6-1, 6-4, over Barbara Lemberg and Sandy Collins.