TENNIS : Top-Seeded Hardcourt Players Advance

The top-seeded singles players continued to advance Thursday in the United States Tennis Assn. National 50 and 55 Hardcourt Championships at Lindborg Racquet Club.

Charlie Hoeveler of Ross, Calif., seeded No. 1 in the 50 division, defeated Wes Simmons of Huntington Beach, 6-3, 6-1. Second-seeded Leland Housman of San Diego beat Geoff Grant of Corte Madera, 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.

Also advancing into the 50 quarterfinals were Ken Robinson of San Carlos, Niesi Sie of Westlake Village, Ray Lake of Kansas City, Mo., Terry Ehlers of San Clemente, Dean Corley of Tempe, Ariz., and Billy Higgins of Moreno Valley.

Top-seeded Len Saputo of Walnut Creek had to scramble back to win in three sets in the 55s. Saputo lost the first set, 6-4, but bounced back to win the next two sets 6-2, 6-1. Second-seeded Gil Howard of San Francisco defeated Bob Jones of Irvine, 6-0, 7-6.

Also moving into the quarterfinals were defending champion Larry Dodge of Piedmont, Les Dodson of Kalamazoo, Mich., Bob Duesler of Newport Beach, Richard Leach of Laguna Beach, Gordon Smith of San Francisco and Herman Ahlers of Dana Point.

Singles play begins today at 10 a.m. Doubles resume at 1 p.m.