Briggs and Bower Win Guild Title

Orange County’s Mike Briggs and Devin Bower squashed Mark Kaplan and Bruce Man Son Hing’s hopes of defending their title, as Briggs and Bower won the men’s 6.5 Open Division of the 36th annual Adoption Guild Tennis Tournament Sunday at Newport Beach Tennis Club.

After losing the first set in a tiebreaker, Briggs and Bower, fourth-seeded, rallied to upset top-seeded Kaplan and Man Son Hing, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 7-5.

In the deciding third set, Briggs and Bower took a 2-1 lead, breaking Man Son Hing’s service, but Kaplan and Man Son Hing, both UC Irvine alumni, came back with a late break, tying the set, 5-5. Bower and Briggs broke right back and then held.

After going up 15-0, Briggs, the 1984 Southern Section champion from Corona del Mar, made a diving backhand volley, but it was called back when the umpire said Briggs had touched the net. Tied 15-15, Bower, an Estancia graduate, drilled a serve that Man Son Hing couldn’t return to go up 30-15. Bower then missed an easy forehand smash and with the score 30-30, it looked as if another tiebreaker might be order. But Bower closed out the match with a passing shot down the line and then a bullet serve that Kaplan couldn’t handle for match point.

In the men’s 35-and-over division, Sashi Menon of Dana Point and Tim Downey of Laguna Niguel defended their title with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Irvine’s Kevin Armstrong and Eric Quade.

The victory is the third consecutive title for Downey. Menon was a member of India’s Davis Cup team for 16 years.

In the women’s 6.5 open division, San Diego’s Terry Holladay and Gretchen Magers won the title with a 6-3, 7-6 victory over Dina Birch and Kirsten Smith.

Birch, an Estancia High graduate, partnered with Desi McBride in the mixed 6.5 open division, and defeated Nicole Elliot and David Roditi, 6-4, 7-6.

The Adoption Guild, founded in 1962, is one of the largest charity doubles tennis tournaments in the United States. Last year the event donated $68,000 to Holy Family Services of South Orange County. Their goal for this year’s event was $75,000.