Cheney Set to Defend His Title at Men’s Tennis Championships

Brian Cheney of Chandler, Ariz., begins defense of his 50 singles title today in the men’s 50 and 55 Hardcourt Tennis Championships at the Lindborg Racquet Club in Huntington Beach.

Cheney defeated Dick Johnson of Ballwin, Mo., in last year’s final. Johnson will not return this year, but chasing top-seeded Cheney will be No. 2 Jim Rombeau of Houston, No. 3 Dave Bohannon of Garden Grove and No. 4 Hugh Thompson of Norcross, Calif.

In the 55 singles, defending champion Pat Cadwallader of Memphis will not return, leaving the title open for top-seeded Leland Hausman of San Diego, No. 2 Jim Parker of Houston, No. 3 Bob Bachman of Westerville, Ohio, and No. 4 Bill Lange of Evanston, Ill.

In the 50 doubles competition, brothers Dave and Dan Bohannon are the top-seeded team. Peter Bronson and David Bryant of Scottsdale, Ariz., are No. 2; Tom Leonard of South Pasadena and Jerry VanLinge of Newport Beach are No. 3, and Robin Ray of Newport Beach will team with Cheney to form the fourth-seeded team.

Parker is seeded No. 1 in the 55 doubles along with partner Ken Robinson of San Carlos, Calif. Bob Duessler of Newport Beach and Hank Leichtfried of Irvine are No. 2. Dick Leach of Laguna Beach and Ken Stewart of Newport Beach are No. 3, and Geof Grant of Mill Valley, Calif., and Gil Howard of Daly City, Calif., are No. 4.

Admission is free. The event, which continues daily through July 21, is sponsored by the U.S. Tennis Assn. and the Southern California Tennis Assn.

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The Southern California boys’ and girls’ A teams won the 17-and-under water polo titles Sunday at the California State Games at Mesa College in San Diego.

The SoCal A boys defeated Central California, 10-7. Eitan Goldstein (Foothill High), Albert Garcia (Long Beach Wilson), Hunter Taylor (Costa Mesa) and Greg Snyder (Santa Barbara) each scored twice for the A team, which led, 7-4, at the half. Mark Leeper (Newport Harbor) and Ted Peck (University) scored once.

Erin Lezak (Irvine) scored three goals to lead the SoCal girls’ A team past the B team, 10-3. Erin Wilson (Marina) scored twice for the winners. Amber Prestegard (Edison), Mekia Mosby (Santa Barbara), Sheetal Narsai (Bell Gardens), Jamie Kroeze (Santa Margarita) and Amanda Heintzelman (Long Beach Millikan) scored.

Emi Umezawa (University), Brittany Hayes and Rebecca Wedemeyer (Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula) scored for the B team.

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Mike Marino, a rider in a sidecar in a demonstration race who lost consciousness in a crash Saturday night at the Orange County Speedway Fair Derby in Costa Mesa, was examined and released that night Western Medical Center in Santa Ana.