The younger generation has been making an impact on the men's singles draw at the Davenport City Tennis Championships. But the old guard isn't ready to relinquish its hold on the tournament just yet.

That was made clear when co-number one seeds Carl Clark, 41, and Sean Steinour, 37, reached today's showdown with straight-set victories.

"We're still plugging away," said Steinour. "Seeing what we can do."

Clark needed only 45 minutes to oust No. 8 seed Kyle Parker, a rising senior at Mills Godwin High, 6-1, 6-2, while Steinour took about an hour and a half to sideline another old-timer, No. 7 Lynn Bybee 7-5, 6-3 yesterday at Byrd Park.

Steinour, the defending champ, made the final for the 12th time in the past 13 years and is seeking his ninth title.

"That's what makes the tournament kind of neat [this year]," said Clark, head pro at the Country Club of Virginia. "There's a strong veteran presence. You've got all the high-school kids, and the 12-year-old [Shyam Venkatasubramanian] I played the other night.

"It just really gives you an overall flavor of the variety and level of tennis throughout the ages in Richmond. It's an incredible tennis town, and this tournament is a showcase for that."

Clark is playing in the singles part of the tournament for the first time since he won it in 1999, and he didn't waste much time taking out Parker, Godwin's top player.

"I didn't want to get into a hitting battle with him," Clark said. "Especially in the wind. I just tried to nick and cut, make him bend a little bit. Keep him off-balance. I don't think he played as well as he could have. He was missing a lot. My plan was not to give him too many balls in his strike zone."

Steinour was down a service break in the opening set at 3-5 before recovering to win it and was in command throughout the second set. But Bybee, director of tennis at Willow Oaks Country Club, made him work for it.

"He's as crafty as they come," said Steinour, director of racket sports at Westwood Club. "It's not like he hits big shots, but he doesn't give up any errors. He's tough to play because he's so gritty. You've got to finish your points."

Contact John Packett at (804) 649-6313 or jpackett@timesdispatch.com.

YESTERDAY'S RESULTS

Men's doubles -- semifinals: Tom Cain-Carl Clark d. John Hudson-Al Thomas 6-3, 6-2; Ed Butterworth-John Snead d. Kevin Calhoun-Kyle Parker 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).

Mixed doubles -- semifinals: Bridget and Kevin Reichert d. Mason Davis-Chris Blair 6-2, 2-6, 6-4; Leslie and Ed Butterworth d. Ginny Wortham-David Shay 6-4, 6-3.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

Men's singles -- 1 p.m., final, Clark vs. Sean Steinour.

Men's doubles -- 3 p.m., final, Cain-Clark vs. Butterworth-Snead.

Mixed doubles -- 4 p.m., final, Butterworth-Butterworth vs. Reichert-Reichert.