Tyler Browne Photo Doug Kohen

The Moraga Open Tennis Championship completed its first year on Sunday, August 8th, with Alta Bates Summit Medical Group as its new sponsor. Moraga Country Club has been hosting this popular event for 29 years. Mark Orwig, an Orinda native, has been the tournament's director for 27 years. Orwig is helped by Ken Haley and Barbara Blum, Walnut Creek residents who make sure results are posted and all matches are correctly scheduled.

A true "open" tournament, the $25,000 event attracts satellite tennis professionals as well as top collegiate and local high school players. This year recent Miramonte and Campo graduates included Nick Ballou, Drew Dieffenbach, Nick Lopez, Sean Peterson, and Evan Rose.

Early rounds were well attended by family and friends. Thursday evening featured two tennis matches plus a BBQ buffet. Saturday and Sunday's matches entertained crowds of 600 fans.

Tyler Browne was again a strong presence, winning men's singles with a victory over last years' winner Brad Weston of Aptos. He then teamed up with fellow Cal grad Geoff Chizever to push the doubles winners, Gary Sacks and Nima Roshan, to three sets in that final. He and recent Cal grad Cristina Visico played mixed doubles where they made it to the semi-finals. Browne, who grew up in Walnut Creek and played tennis at Las Lomas High School, is now an assistant coach to the Cal tennis team.

Alex Poorta, a Saint Mary's College senior tennis player, upset the #5 seed in the women's quarters but lost to the eventual winner.