By Eric Sawyer
Today the matches started, bright and early. Thank goodness we were spared the winds that made yesterday so unfestive. The sun actually broke out of the clouds a few times. But as the evening fell, so did the temperatures. By day's end, my hands were so cold I could barely feel my mallet.
As is the case in almost any GC tournament, all flights have fallen behind schedule. Since all of the games are played "first to score 7," and there are no time limits, it is almost impossible to schedule a sanctioned GC tournament with certainty. So after the first games are played, the next scheduled games play as courts become open. You may wait only 30 minutes for your next game, or almost two hours as I did during one stretch. Then I played four games in a row with no break. Ben also wanted to treat us to the luxury of single-banked games, which was nice. But as it became apparent that we were falling badly behind schedule. the decision was made to start double-banking all games. Every one played collaboratively in the double-banking. It's much better to wait once or maybe twice a game for just a few minutes as the other game plays through than sitting on the sidelines for two hours waiting for your next match. And because there aren't any time limits, there is no need to by-pass a hoop.
Ben set the wickets really tight. I came out early to volunteer to help set up. I was aghast as Ben was setting the wickets with very little clearance. I think I said aloud, "ugh, these are kind of tight aren't they?" Ben slyly smiled and said, "not really." Like I said yesterday, expect the unexpected.
Having played my first day against world class competition, I have made some observations. Holy 2#$% these guys are awesome! Sherif Abdelwahab and his brother Ahab hit the ball so hard I'm afraid they are going to break balls, hoops or perhaps the ankles of an innocent bystander. In fact, poor Genie Hendry almost got her ankle chopped by bullet clear shot hit by Sherif. I've never seen that girl jump so high. Good thing.
Paul Bennett is an incredible player. He is an accomplished Association Rules and American Rules player, and I don't sense that he spends much time practicing GC. But he sure can play. He executed some shots I would never even attempt. Example. My partner Ron had his ball in the jaws of rover, wicket 12. Paul's ball was on the south boundary, about half-way between wickets four and rover. He not only knocked Ron's ball out of the jaws and well past the peg, but his black ball also came through the hoop by about one foot in position to score. In my GC class, I tell people they are lucky to do that if their ball is a foot or two behind the hoop. But 30-something feet at a nasty angle? Yikes!
Rich Lamm has not played as much GC either. But I was watching him routinely run 21 foot line wicket shots without a sweat. There is a puddle around my feet when I have those shots, but Rich takes a couple casting swings and his ball just goes through the hoop like a hot knife through butter. Same with Ben. He closed out a game by hitting a 20-30 foot wicket shot with just a moment of stalking and a nice easy swing. Bang, the ball goes through like he was three feet in front of the hoop.
The great Mike Orgill has given himself the nickname "Drama Queen." The two games I saw him play went to 7-6. He and his opponent were contesting rover in the last match of the night before darkness, so that means another nail-biter for the king of the Orgill-Special.
Local players are doing well. Michael Rumbin had a good day. I think he went undefeated in singles, including an easy take down of Welles Farago, last year's Second Flight National Champion. Michael and his partner Tom split their doubles matches. More info tomorrow.
Since the games were being played until it was pitch dark and things were a bit in disarray when I left, I don't have complete results. I think Mohammad Kamal split his singles matches today, going 2-2. He is not playing doubles. Ahmed had a very mixed day. He got roughed up by Brian Cummings, who is the best player in Canada and one of the best in North America. But I think Ahmed bounced back against former national champion Sherif. His third game against last year's runner-up Danny Huneycutt was called on account of darkness with the score 6-6. Danny and Ben Rothman are widely regarded as the two best croquet players in the US. This is Ahmed's first time at Mission Hills and the wickets here are much tighter than in Pasadena, so I think Ahmed is just warming up and will progress very well as the event goes on. A win over Danny would be huge for him. Ahmed's father, Osman, is out here watching the matches, and serving as his personal coach and guru. Osman has forgotten more about the game than most of us know about it, so its fun to visit with him and get his real-time commentary as the matches unfold.
As for me, I had a good day, which worries me. As some of you may remember from last year, I got off to a dreadful start across the board and then gradually got better, saving the best for last. Today I went 4-0 in singles, including victories over Mission Hills club GC champion Leo Nikora (7-5), Steve Mossbrook from Wyoming (7-4), my doubles partner Ron Hendry (7-1), and Mohammad Kamal (7-5). The game with Mohammad was marred by darkness. Toward the end, it was virtually impossible to see the hoop in question or the other balls. Ron and I went 1-1 in our doubles matches. We were up on Paul Bennett and Art Bagby 5-3, only to lose 7-5. But then we beat Sherif and his brother Ahab 7-4. But tomorrow we have to play Canadian Champ Brian Cumming and former MH club GC champ Jim Butts, and then MacRob and Solomon trophie team members Danny Huneycutt and Rich Lamm. Can we all give a collective groan. I imagine having to flip a coin and play a match against Danny and Rich will be like showing up for a charity golf tournament and finding that your foursome includes Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Shooting the first ball out of corner IV is going to give me the same sweats as you would get teeing off on hole number 1 with old Tiger and Phil watching. Again, ugh. Don't worry. Our next match is against Ben Rothman and Leo Nikora. Out of the frying pan ...
On Saturday, the singles play-offs will lift off after the make-up matches are over. The Doubles preliminary matches will hopefully finish, setting up the play-offs for Sunday. More to follow.