2010 USCA Association Championship
Mission Hills Croquet Club
Rancho Mirage, CA
With 31 entrants and 9 courts and 8 MacRob team members
the 2010 National Championships is ready for lift off.
The lawns at Mission Hills are "plummering" at 11.5 seconds and only
getting faster while the hoops are
firming up.
Players will be flying in from all over the country and even the great
white north to enjoy the fun and sun in Palm Springs. The championship
flight will have 20 players on 10 doubles teams and feature
best-of-three playoffs with
hope for a best-of-five singles final.
First flight is missing some of the young blood it had last year
(literally Young, figuratively Gillmarten, Essic) but the 11 players
will get their fill with best-of-three
singles and doubles finals.
Who knows what might happen? Rothman to repeat? Danny's doubtless
dominance? Cummings to America? Grimsley to grind it out? A boy named
Soo?
Look out for frequent updates this week to see how things develop. For
now, feel free to add your predictions to the comments.
Players and Teams in order of grade:
Danny Huneycutt
Ben Rothman
Doug Grimsley
Jeff Soo
Rich Lamm
Brian Cumming
Paul Bennett
Jim Bast
Paul Billings
Johnny Mitchell
Bob Van Tassell
Ron Lloyd
Jim Butts
Charles Smith
Ron Hendry
Steve Scalpone
Steve Summer
Martyn Selman
Steve Johnston
Tony Reaves
Donna Dixon
Dick Engebretson
Marvin Salles
Phyllis Butts
Sheri Foroughi
Mary Rodeberg
Jane Beharriel
Steve Mossbrook
Judy Dahlstom
Jean Engebretson
Toni Kemp
Doubles:
Rothman Grimsley
Soo Lamm
Cumming Bast
Bennett Billings
Huneycutt Summer
Mitchell Van Tassell
Butts Hendry
Scalpone Selman
Smith Johnston
Lloyd Reaves
Engebretson Salles
Dixon Mossbrook
Rodeberg Behariel
Dahlstrom Kemp
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Report, Day One -- Ben Rothman
Day one was brilliantly sunny and hot, but in the way a
desert gets warm but not uncomfortably hot. Players
enjoyed spectacular lawns and friendly rivalry.
First flight featured Marvin Salles winning all three
games and dark horse Toni Kemp, the lowest seed,
upsetting the #3 and #4 seed in her flight for a 2-1
record against the best in the block. Championship block play featured
some surprising upsets:
Martyn Selman started off by soundly defeating Jeff Soo 26-9. Steve
Scalpone fought long and hard to knock off Brian Cumming 26-18. And
"Sandy" Bob Van Tassell came back to beat Doug Grimsley 26-23 late in
the day.
Martyn Selman managed to make hoops 3 and 4 in one shot - an astounding
play in golf croquet but one which
"managed to make the break quite difficult" in this
Association Laws game.
Every MacRob team member scored a win, and the top 6 all had
triples. Danny Huneycutt and Doug Grimsley managed to score three
triples each (maybe Jeff Soo as well, he should write his scores
down...).
Only three players are undefeated: the aforementioned
Marvin Salles (4-0 including a doubles game), Danny
Huneycutt (who beat Jim Bast), and Paul Bennett (who
upset Ben Rothman). In championship flight only 16 make
it out to the best-of-three knock out. Tomorrow will
illuminate those playoff bound players and those
destined for glory in the plate event.
First Flight block play continues tomorrow and Wednesday while
Championship flight begins the doubles knock-out tomorrow and the
singles knock-out Wednesday.
Stay Tuned...
Report, Day Two -- Ben Rothman
And then there was one...
Only one player made it through day two with a perfect
singles record. Marvin Salles, a Palm Springs resident,
remains alone at 6-0 in singles. Other block leaders are
Donna Dixon and Mary Rodeberg at 4-2.
Championship flight block play ended abruptly for a few
unlucky players. Four players will stake out their turf
in the plate event beginning tomorrow afternoon. The
plate event holds high prestige and features its very
own authentic award that travelled a long ways to be here.
Out of the 60 block games in championship flight there
were 23 triple peels (and more than a few futp's) and
one sextuple peel. While there are no undefeated
players, there is a very strong group at 5-1. Six
players have found excellent form on the lawns with
three triple peels in six games. The last round saw two
favorites upset. Undefeated Paul Bennett got three peels
but failed to make rover. Jim Bast took the opportunity
to triple past the streaking Bennett. Bennett started
the day knocking off top seed Danny Huneycutt with a 5th
turn triple. Danny had a tough day as he fell to a 7th
turn sextuple in the next round. Rothman had some luck
on the rough and tumble peeling turn; it was his first
sextuple.
Championship singles playoff pairings are below. The
first doubles knock out matches are pegged down and it's
time for this tournament director to bed down. Stay Tuned...
Danny Huneycutt vs
Martyn Selman
Paul Billings vs
Jim Bast
Jeff Soo vs
Charlie Smith
Jim Butts vs
Rich Lamm
other half:
Ben Rothman vs
Steve Scalpone
Bob Van Tassell vs
Paul Bennett
Doug Grimsley vs
Ron Hendry
Johnny Mitchell vs
Brian Cumming
Day Three -- Ben Rothman
It was a busy day in the desert. A few players, fighting
tooth and nail, managed to spend upwards of 10 hours on
court today. With best-of-three playoffs in full tilt,
the championship flight became an endurance test.
On the doubles side Johnny Mitchell and "Sandy Bob"
managed to defeat Cumming and Bast in a tight match.
Jim's 6th turn triple set the pace and Johnny responded
in game two with a triple of his own. Johnny had some
speed bumps including a 10 foot straight rover peel that
got stuck and the subsequent drag jump to complete the
scrappy turn. In game three "everybody failed something"
according to Brian Cumming. Hoops, roquets, breaks and
triples were all tried and failed but Johnny and Bob
rose from the dust and survived to meet Soo and Lamm.
The formidable team of Jeff Soo and Rich Lamm had a
scare of their own. In game one, Jim Butts completed a
triple and was starting the triple turn in game two when
he failed hoop one. Ron Hendry, his partner, had done
his part and both were silent about the lost
opportunity. And the Lamm gave it back! With his own
failed hoop shot, Rich gave Jim the chance he thought he
had lost. It was to no avail as Jim put the break down
after 5 hoops and one peel. Jeff Soo began his return to
form with a double peel out of Ron's ball and a patient
2v1 game against Jim Butts. In game three Jeff held
nothing back and got the triple to move on.
Rothman and Grimsley moved on with ease, giving up only
3 points while getting 6 peels. Rothman failed to peg
out his triple (rush into the jaws of rover) but
Grimsley got his in game two. The defending champs will
face Paul and Paul. The Pauls managed to take out Danny
Huneycutt and Steve Summer on time. With last turns fast
approachin, Danny was forced to attempt a sextuple peel.
2 minutes left and enough of a deficit to necessitate 4
peels of his partner (for one-back). Danny managed two
peels quite easily but ran aground at 3-back allowing
the team of Bennett and Billings, our MacRob alternates,
to move on to the semis.
First flight finished a laborious block of ten players
with Marvin Salles missing the mark by one point. At 8-1
Marvin easily grabbed the top seed for the double
elimination playoff. Mary Rodeberg continued her clutch
play with her fourth one-point victory over the block
winner. Mary came in second with a 7-2 record setting up
what could be an epic final...
In Championship singles Rothman and Huneycutt moved on
with two triples. Rothman gave up 11 points to Steve
Scalpone in game one but managed a shutout in game two.
Danny elevated his game after two late losses in the
block with two +26tp's over Martyn Selman. Danny will
face Jim Bast who snuck by Paul Billings with two close
games. Jeff Soo survived a last turn scare from Charlie
Smith (Charlie missed a 2 foot game winning hoop-shot)
and will play his partner Rich Lamm in the quarter
finals. Doug Grimsley allowed only two points to Ron
Hendry and he will match up with Brian Cumming. Bennett
and Van Tassell are in a heated battle that could not be
contained in Wednesday's schedule. Bob took game one on
time (3 hours) 24-23 with a critical peel on last turns.
Game two is tied 9-9, but Paul just missed a lift shot
that allows Bob a finishing turn. The winner will face a
tired tournament director in the quarter finals tomorrow.
The shot of the day, however, was not a peel or a
crucial hit-in. In the plate, North Carolina native Tony
"the Plumber" Reaves was facing Steve Johnston. Tony was
running a break precisely until his two back pioneer
went wayward. He rolled to the hoop from 3-back and
faced a nearly impossible 15 fot shot from a 45 degree
angle. I say nearly impossible beacause despite that
being Steve's hoop (hoop one) and having Steve's ball
close by, Tony ripped through the hoop and finished
within a yard of corner one! Just another day in the
life of the sharp-shooter known for his amazing hoops.
Tomorrow will feature many more best of threes and heavy
plate play while the first flighters get into the
playoff scene. Stay tuned...
Day Four -- Ben Rothman
Sandy Bob Strikes Again
With three of the four quarter finals beginning, one
match lagged. MacRob team member Paul Bennett couldn't
rid himself of a pesky gnat. Every nice leave he set was hit. Every
game winning turn fell apart. And every game went to time. The gnat was
Bob. Newly monikered “Bad Bob” by Jim Bast, Bob Van Tassell hung around
like a bad cold.
In game one (a 3 hour and 30 minute nail-biter)
Bob managed to build a break for 8 hoops, make a peel at penultimate
after the striker went through itself and peg out to go ahead by one
point in last turns. Paul faced a few tough options, Bob had put two of
the balls on the boundary and Paul's shortest shot was an 8 yard peg
out to tie the game. In Wednesday's fading twilight the shot was...
undecided. Maybe it hit and maybe it didn't, but Paul called it a
non-hit giving the game to the dark horse, “Sandy” Bob.
The second game began in earnest this morning and again, the patient
measured [yawn] play took up the allotted time (2 hours, bringing the
match to 5.5). Bob again had a break going into last turns. With one
ball for 4-back and the other running, Bob decided to peg out against
Paul's well behind balls for 4-back and hoop 2. Bob forgot, however, to
groom the court. At all. Paul made an easy 15 foot hit and built a
break with all three remaining balls. Paul ran from two
to the peg and left his partner in position. In the
second rotation of last turns, Bob missed a 50 foot shot to win, giving
Paul the one point victory.
With only an hour and twenty minutes for game three, it was a one-break
game. Paul took nine hoops, followed by Bob taking nine and time was
nearly out. Bob had a chance for a finishing break, but failed to rush
to hoop one! With time expiring, Bob set a poor leave and watched
anxiously as Paul's hit in sailed and missed. Bob nowhad another
chance, but he missed a six yard shot at partner! Paul now had the
game, until he over-rolled position at hoop one! In the 3rd rotation of
overtime, Paul took a very threatening position at hoop one, perfectly
wired from Bob's nearby ball. Bob decided to play his ball for hoop one
and try a 60 foot roquet for all the marbles, and he hit! Bob took game
three by one point and scored the biggest upset of this year's national
championships.
Bob followed up by tripling against Ben Rothman (his 4th triple in the
tournament) in the quarter finals. Ben mustered some inner rage and
managed a fifth turn triple in game two. After Bob failed third turn
break in game three, Ben hit and managed to triple (his 7th) his way
past the giant killer and into the semi-finals.
Brian Cumming, who couldn't buy a triple, managed to
dispatch of Doug Grimsley on his way to the semis. Brian is now down
one game to Ben in an ongoing semi-
final match. Partners Jeff Soo and Rich Lamm met in the
quarter finals and had an incredibly clean match. Three
games in which the winner tripled while the loser failed to make a
single hoop. Jeff came back after Rich
dominated game one and managed to use the best of three
to his benefit. Wind played a major role yesterday and
today as Rich's continuous swing was thrown around by 25 mph gusts.
Having switched his swing for just this
reason, Jeff managed to avoid the crosswind on his way
to the semis.
Danny Huneycutt and Jim Bast met up in an epic battle fit for the
colosseum. Both hit nearly every leave and tripled with impunity. In
the end, Huneycutt proved to be the sweeter shot, hitting in to get a
standard triple in game three. Danny is now up one game (6th turn 26-0
tp) over Jeff Soo in the ongoing semi-final match.
14 remaining championship players will begin a single
elimination plate ladder tomorrow. The well travelled
prize awaits the resilient victor.
In first flight, Sheri Foroughi and Mary Rodeberg turned in impressive
performances today. Sheri managed to knock the formidable Marvin Salles
into the loser's bracket while Mary held back the stampeding
Beharriell. Six players remain in contention for the first flight
national title, but there can only be one.
XXX
Day Five -- Ben Rothman
The day began with snow topped mountains and a forecast
for a beautiful 80 degree spring day. Danny Huneycutt
was ahead one to nil in his best of three with Jeff Soo.
Jeff tried to triple peel Danny's ball (tpo or otp) but
failed, allowing Danny an easy finish into the final.
Danny won the Association Rules National Championship in
2005 when the tournament was in Seattle. On the adjacent
court, defending champ Ben Rothman stared up one nil as
well. Both players had a break when Brian set a new
standard leave. Ben looked and found that his backswing,
while hampered, could just fit between the hoop
stanchions and hit Brian's ball nine yards away. After a
gut check, Ben managed to hit and complete a standard
triple on his way to the final.
Ben had not time to celebrate as he and partner Doug
Grimsley went right into their semi-final against Paul
Bennett and Paul Billings. The carnivorous MacRob team
match was slow going (at least during the Pauls'
discussions) but ended with two Grimsley triple
attempts. The first ran into some trouble, but the
second was right on. Rothman and Grimsley will defend
their title tomorrow, but they had to wait for the other
semi-final to find their opposition. Fellow MacRob
members Jeff Soo and Rich Lamm had the match well in
hand against Johnny Mitchell and Bob Van Tassell.
Game one saw some tentative shooting and poor execution
by the inexperienced duo, allowing Soo and Lamm an easy
victory. Game two had a failed triple by Bob turn into a
double peel out by Soo. With Lamm for four-back and Bob
for hoop five, the 2 on 1 was Rich's to lose. After a
lot of jockeying for position and incredibly
conservative play (yawn), Jeff finally pegged out with
Rich for rover and Bob in position at one-back. Bob
controlled the court until three-back when Rich hit a 14
yard shot and sent Bob packing to the north boundary.
Rich was so adamant that he sent Bob out of bounds, and
thus losing his continuation shot. Rich soon made rover
and tried to hide near the peg. With a 55 foot shot that
meant the game, spectators began making justifications
for the 2-0 victory. “The 2 on 1 is taylor made for Jeff
and Rich's game.”
But then, the croquet goddess smiled, once again, on Bob
and he hit dead center. Bob continued with an immaculate
turn; 40 foot take off to 3-back, 12 yard roquet after
4-back, 9 foot rover hoop. And just like that the
momentum swung towards Mitchell Van Tassell.
Soo and Lamm are test match veterans. They work like a
well oiled machine, but Bob was the wrench in the gears.
After an interactive first act, Jeff and Bob each got
around to 4-back and Johnny took his best shot at a
standard triple. Everything went according to plan,
until the peg out. A tester of a shot left Johnny no
option but to isolate Bob again. Johnny pegged out and
left Bob all alone, this time by choice. Rich tried the
precise 2 on 1, but Bob did not wait. With two balls
near hoop one and Bob in corner two, “Bad Bob” went full
throttle and took the risky 65 footer. The beautiful
afternoon sunshine over the San Jacinto Mountain smirked
with a flashbulb effect as a cloud parted and lit up the
exact spot on the court where Bob made the game winning
roquet. With roars from the crowd full of recent
converts to the “Sandy Bob” fan club, Soo and Lamm
exited the National Championship. Sometimes you play the
game, but sometimes the game plays you.
First flight play was an endurance test, with an ill
conceived best of three semi-final that resulted in
Phyllis Butts and Marvin Salles gearing up to play Mary
Rodeberg and Jane Beharriell in a single game final
(back by popular demand). Mary also showed her moxie in
singles, knocking Sheri foroughi into the loser's
bracket with unfailing hoop shots and a the tenacity
that can only come from a career in the legal system.
Marvin and Sheri will battle for a spot in the best of
three final tomorrow.
Play ended a bit early, even with Ben and Danny getting
one of the best of five games out of the way (a shooting
display resulting in a +26tp for Huneycutt). Thanks to
generous efforts of Marilyn O'Neil and a few crucial
sponsors, participants were treated to court side drinks
and munchies while enjoying “wild” golf croquet on the
court fringe. Play culminated in a jump shot gallery.
Shots included a 3 foot jump shot over a ball in a hoop
using a generous ramp (one point), a four foot jump shot
(three points), and a ten foot jump shot (ten points).
Play was neck and neck as the three teams were tied at
three until the “pay for the pro” rounds came. Local pro
Ben Rothman out shot US teammates by making two of three
of the ten point jump shots to win the competition
23-3-3 for “team Zebra”. All proceeds will go to the Lee
Olsen fund to support our US team play in the years to
come. The evening ended with some raucous jokes and
hollering as spectators celebrated the national
championship of cocktail parties.
Final -- Ben Rothman
Sweet as Huney
The hottest player in the country burned white as he
trounced the young pro at Mission Hills. Danny
Huneycutt, fresh off of his lucrative win at the
International Polo Club and well known as the best test
match player for the United States, proved his merit as
he snatched his second Association Rules Singles
National Championship on Saturday. Danny has shown his
uncanny ability to perform under stress in the 2005
National Championships (his previous victory), 2008
British Opens (all the way to the doubles final), 2009
Solomon (an epic best of five against Mulliner), and
this year's run for the title. The match was a best of
three that went down the stretch with amazing long
distance hit ins and well choreographed triple peels
that left fans wanting more. Danny took game one +26tp
after Rothman failed a fairly easy shot at hoop one.
Rothman took game two +26tp after a high risk 12 foot
shot at hoop one. And Danny took game three after
another failed hoop one attempt by Rothman. Huneycutt's
peels were sweet and his hit ins were smooth as he
weathered the storm and displayed his skill at Mission
Hills this week.
The championship doubles managed to delay the singles
match, forcing a best of three rather than best of five.
Rothman was in both and thus, the match could not begin
any earlier. In the best of three doubles, the scrappy
underdog team of Johnny Mitchell and Bob Van Tassell
worked well together. Game one was back and forth until
Rothman organized a standard triple, finishing +13tp.
Always in agreement and often meeting to manage break
play, Mitchell and Van Tassell held their own and
managed to triple peel in game two (Mitchell's triple)
for a +14tp. With no delay Grimsley began a fifth turn
triple, but got stuck in three while trying to use too
much touch. After a little back and forth, Doug stuck in
five. To complete a unique triple, Doug missed a third
hoop at one back, giving the challengers a welcome
opportunity. After a great run, Mitchell was finishing a
nice leave when he mistakenly switched and played his
partner ball! The fault left Rothman an easy roquet and
eventually a nice leave was laid. Being for one-back and
four-back convinced Mitchell and Van Tassell to put a
ball on the baulk line and leave the game up to chance.
Which is exactly what Doug was waiting for. In what
proved to be the critical turn of the match, Doug built
a break from a rush in corner one, a ball near corer
three, and a ball near three-back, into a six hoop break
(including a 40 foot roll up to two-back) and a solid
diagonal spread leave. Van Tassell took his time,
squared his shot, and delivered a rare miss to give
Rothman a championship winning break. The final score
was +13tp(R), -14tp(M), +17 for Rothman and Grimsley.
This was the team's second consecutive national
championship and a third consecutive for Doug
(previously partnered with Leo McBride).
The plate event became quite boring as Rich Lamm's play
became more interesting. With admittedly little pressure
on himself, Rich managed to roll out the triple of
triples. Lamm laid waste to Selman, Bast and Billings
+26tp, +26tp and +25tp in a four hour span. The well
deserved plate was taken with pride as Rich left before
the other finals had been determined to go house hunting
with his partner Tim. I guess Rich must like the lawns
here in Mission Hills.
First flight saw the determined emergence of Mary
Rodeberg. While not the highest scoring singles player
in the tournament, Mary learned how to manufacture a
win. With almost every one of her games going to time,
Mary took out the top seeds and captured the coveted
championship in a scant two games. Marvin Salles became
the runner-up after defeating Sheri Foroughi to earn the
finals berth. Marvin was exhausted after so many days of
play and countless games. He seemed content to resign
his final match as the sun set on Saturday evening. On
the other hand, Mary never let up. Her relentless
defense and unflinching poise lead her to a seven point
victory in the deciding game. Mary and her partner Jane
Beharriell also took the doubles championship over
Marvin Salles and Phyllis Butts. The consolation plate
went to Steve Mossbrook for his exploits over Donna
Dixon (and consolation is appropriate as Steve is not
the one who truly �won� Donna
Dixon this week).
The crowd petered out as the sun went down and goodbye's were said all
around. A toast was had to Jerry's name and Danny Huneycutt enjoyed the
fame. The doubles toast was arm in arm while a few enjoyed Ben's
devilish charm. The tournament ends as we pay the bills, so that all
may return to Mission Hills.
I hope you consider responding to the writer. Please
send criticism, comments, or and suggestions (more game
detail, more social commentary, less Ben, etc...) Thanks
for reading.
Ben Rothman, email
him/her at: CroquetPro@gmail.com
Johnny Mitchell sets up a corner cannon with his partner Bob Van
Tassell looking on.
Johny Mitchell triple peels by first peeling his partner ball through
4-back, then later on peels it through penult and rover and ends the
game by pegging both blue and black out. This removes the chance
that his opponents Ben and Doug have a chance of coming back and
winning the game. This tied the match even at 1 and 1.
Meanwhile on court 4, Donna Dixon prepares for a shot at hoop 1.
Steve Mossberg takes advantage by rolling black and blue up and taking
control of the court. Steve beat his doubles partner Donna to win
the singles plate finals.
And in the First Flight singles final, Marvin Salles plays Mary
Rodeberg in a best of three finals.
Mary Rodeberg plays flawlessly to win the First Flight Singles against
Marvin Salles.
What a wonderful week of play! and just to say it ... I loved it.
I hope the USCA lets the West host this tournament more often
A world of thanks to the staff at Mission Hills, all the croquet club
members for their wonderful hospitality, the croquet pro Ben Rothman
and his partner Doug Grimsley for directing the event and doing all the
hard work behind the scenes and before each day of play, and Phyllis
Butts for organizing all the wonderful dinners, parties and breakfast
foods in the morning. And to all the great players, we thank you
for giving us the best games and fun available in this country. I
think we are getting much better and more competitive. I am truly
proud
of the players we have and wish the US Mac Robertson Shield team the
best luck in their test match coming up in August 2010.