2010 USCA Nine-Wicket Nationals (Day One)

Nick Zink heads through the turn

DAY ONE PHOTOS

SHAWNEE, KANSAS -- The first day of action saw 16 players battle it out in open singles play. The singles final will happen late afternoon today (4:00 or 5:00 p.m.) and will be George Cochran against the winner between Bill Martin and Billy Bob Breeden. Cochran has now made the finals three straight years and won in 2008. The playoffs matchups:

QUARTERFINALS
Bill Martin over Jeff Caldwell
Nick Zink over Matt Smith
Billy Bob Breeden over John Warlick
George Cochran over Matt Baird

SEMI-FINALS
George Cochran over Nick Zink
Billy Bob Breeden vs Bill Martin (late game)

Morning Coffee: 9W Coverage, Western Regionals Revisited, Lawn Bowling and More

Turn into Croquet Network Friday through Sunday and I should have daily coverage of the USCA Nine-Wicket National Championship which will again be held here in Kansas City (Shawnee, KS). Friday kicks off with open singles play and Saturday has two flights of doubles play. If the format follows last years, the singles championship game will happen at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Doubles playoffs are Sunday morning and generally conclude by 1:00 p.m.

Tega Cay Club Opens New Court -- The Lake Wylie Pilot reports that the South Carolina based Tega Cay Club (106 members) opened a new court this past weekend. TCCC founder and president Tom Anderson:

“From our humble beginnings on a soccer field over a year ago to this day today, we’ve proven that a group of like-minded, motivated individuals can come together and get a dream accomplished.”

USCA Mid-Atlantic / Northeast Regional Results -- Chris Patmore took the championship flight and Chris Glowacki won first flight. Full results here.

Lawn Bowling vs Croquet -- Bob Alman has an in-depth article on the opportunities and pitfalls regarding court sharing between croquet and lawn bowling clubs as the lead story on Croquet World Online.

Genie Hendry sent me a collection from the USCA Western Regionals -- You will find a few rare photos of me playing in first flight. Captions will all be updated soon.

MacRob Photos -- Adrian Wadley (croquetonfilm.com) posted this large collection of excellent MacRob photos a while back.

BBC Sport posted a short piece on Tony Le Moignan winning the Australian Open. If the BBC actually would give the sport serious coverage, that would be quite a boost. Sort of makes sense, considering Great Britain's continuing dominance of the sport.

2010 USCA Western Regionals (Final Day)

KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON -- I have limited results as I played more than I expected today. Steve Scalpone won the championship flight singles event and I actually won the first flight singles. I am not sure of the placings in the championship flight, so I'll post those when available, but first flight worked out like this:

1. Dylan Goodwin
2. Peter Bach
3. Ed Priest
4. Gary Anderson
5. Steve Mossbrook

PHOTO GALLERY | ALL PHOTOS

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2010 USCA Western Regionals (Day Three)

KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON -- Day three brought beautiful blue skies and temperatures that ranged from cool to pleasantly warm when the sun was able to peak through the scattered clouds. There is no photo gallery today as I played in each slot today. I was also unable to get a photo of the master scoresheet. The only real croquet info I have is the line-ups for first flight elimination play:

Round One - 4/5 Play-in Game
Steve Mossbrook vs Dylan Goodwin

Round Two - Semifinals
Peter Bach vs Gary Anderson
Ed Priest vs Mossbrook/Goodwin winner

First Flight Championship Game

Look for better information tomorrow. I'll have more time after play concludes to make sure I have results.

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2010 USCA Western Regionals (Day Two)

Ed Priest approaches hoop twoKIRKLAND, WASHINGTON -- Singles play started yesterday at the USCA Western Regionals in Kirkland under partly cloudy skies. There were clouds in the area, but the weather worked out as it stayed dry all day. Cool enough for two shirts most of the day.

DAY TWO PHOTO GALLERY

UNOFFICIAL STANDINGS (Scoresheet)

Championship Flight
Steve Scalpone 3-0
Jim Butts 3-0
Cameron Guernsey 2-1
Ron Hendry 1-2
Jim Herzog 0-3
Patrick Sweeney 0-3

First Flight
Ed Priest 3-1
Peter Bach 2-1
Dylan Goodwin 2-1
Gary Anderson 1-2
Steve Mossbrook 0-3

2010 USCA Western Regionals (Day One)

Peter Bach on court two

KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON -- It was a brisk day with a little bit of rain falling now and then for the first day of the USCA'S Western Regionals. The event is being hosted by the Puget Sound Croquet Club which has three courts available for play. The first day featured five rounds of hi-lo waterford doubles. Singles play is scheduled to be mixed in as well today. There are six players in the championship flight and five players in first flight.

FIRST DAY PHOTOS

Championship Flight:
Jim Butts (-0.5)
Cameron Guernsey (0.5)
Ron Hendry (-0.5)
Jim Herzog (0.5)
Steve Scalpone (-0.5)
Patrick John Sweeney

First Flight:
Gary Anderson (5)
Peter Bach (4)
Dylan Goodwin (10)
Steve Mossbrook (4)
Ed Priest (4.5)