The inaugural Women’s Hurricane Golf Croquet Open tournament was held at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida on January 20-23, 2022.

The tournament was hosted by the women of the National Croquet Club and managed by Priscilla Flowers and Cami Russack.  Macey White was the tournament director.  56 players signed up and represented all levels of GC play, from beginners to the best, including six of the top ten active female players in America; Helen Covington, Cheryl Bromley, Debbie Davidoff, Eileen Soo, Lynda Sudderberg, and Vicky Naranjo.

Thursday and Friday started with two rounds of doubles play in the morning each day.  The top two doubles teams squared off at 11am on Sunday for a finals showdown.  Cheryl Bromley & Lynda Sudderberg defeated Debbie Davidoff & Ellen Nielsen in a spectacular display of skill.  Clearing shots from the sideline were the norm and the game was a spectator’s delight.

PHOTO GALLERY

The Hurricane was a great place to meet new friends and renew old acquaintances.  Here Pam Groh and Mary Galasso share a moment together.

In singles, since many of the players were unrated, singles play started with “Scramble Blocks”.  There were 11 scramble blocks and each block had a cross section of experience levels.  Scramble block played followed the doubles games on Thursday and Friday.  The top 15 finishers from scramble play went to the Championship Flight.  The next 20 players went to 1st Flight and the last 20 went to 2nd Flight.  The scramble blocks worked well.  One unrated player, up-and-coming star Brooklyn Ellenburg, made the cut for Championship Flight and 5 other players who would have ended up in 1st or 2nd Flight (based on dgrades) ended up in Championship Flight.  Saturday was dominated by flighted play.  Each flight was split into blocks of 5 players and the blocks played round-robin style so that each player played everyone in their block on Saturday.

Sunday was playoff day.  The top eight finishers from each flight went to the quarter finals.  Quarters and semis were a single 75-minute game.  Finals games were untimed.  1st and 2nd Flight played a single finals game and Championship Flight played best two of three.  Allison Worthington defeated Marianne Davidson to win 2nd Flight.  Cami Russack out dueled Vickie Naranjo to win 1st Flight.

The Championship Flight battle between Debbie Davidoff and Cheryl Bromley was fantastic.  Debbie won the first game and Cheryl came from behind to win the next two.  Cheryl and Debbie played at a level that would challenge anyone in the US, man or woman.

Cami Russack commented, “many new unranked players like Suzanne Turner and Missy Chilton did so well.   Mary Galasso had a SPECTACULAR Tournament jumping from 2nd flight to championship flight and the great play from Cheryl, Lynda, Ellen and Debbie in doubles.  And the great fun of the Thursday Mixer.  Everyone was wonderful and we all met new friends! …Through the generosity of the Players and Supporters we raised $650 to create the WOMEN’S HURRICANE GOLF CROQUET OPEN Perpetual Trophy with a plan to list all Flight and Doubles winners for each Year. Thank You all so much!”.

Suzanne Spradling commented, “The good, the bad and the ugly” might describe my play on any given day. But it sure was fun playing with these ladies. I learned so much no matter the outcome. I enjoyed and am looking forward to getting to know even better this determined group of encouraging competitors”.

Mark your calendars, next year the 2023 Hurricane is scheduled for January 19-22.

Doubles Final Order

01. Cheryl Bromley/Lynda Sudderberg
02. Debbie Davidoff/Ellen Nielsen
03. Suzanne Spradling/Missy Chilton
03. Mary Galasso/Caryl Firth
03. Mary Hennelly/Geraldine McCaulley
06. Cathy Baillis/Marilyn Price
07. Anne Killilea/Kathy Gamble
07. Jan Fisher/Rosemarie Maccario
07. Allison Worthington/Sandy Howard
10. Trudy Crowetz/Suzanne Turner
11. Vicky Naranjo/Gay Cinque
12. Helen Covington/Priscilla Flowers
12. Lorie Tarver/Brooklyn Ellenburg
14. Pam Groh/Debra Bradley
15. Eileen Soo/Karen Connery-Albert
16. Lisa Maloney/Cami Russack
17. Geri O'Neill/Barbara Jamison
18. Sheila Peterson/Linda Merk
18. Jane Casey/Pamela Wilson
20. Jan Allison/Joan Corey
21. Sonia Alexandra/Rita Ginsky
21. Courtenay Rodonets/Lynda Bjorklund
23. Lois Clay/Christine Smith
24. Pamela Myers/Marianne Davidson
25. R. Ellen Avellino/Mary Jacobson
26. Lynn Epstein/Mary Churchill
27. Janet Schwartz/Joan Therien
28. Patricia Richmond/Whitney Miller

Championship Flight

01. Cheryl Bromley
02. Debbie Davidoff
03. Helen Covington
03. Mary Galasso
05. Pam Groh
05. Eileen Soo
05. Brooklyn Ellenburg
05. Priscilla Flowers
09. Kathie Gamble
09. Lynda Sudderberg
09. Geri O'Neill
09. Suzanne Spradling
09. Barbara Jamison
09. Christine Smith
09. Rosemarie Maccario

First Flight

01. Cami Russack
02. Vicky Naranjo
03. Lois Clay
03. Linda Merk
05. Ellen Nielsen
05. Mary Churchill
05. Jan Fisher
05. Lisa Maloney
09. Gay Cinque
09. Debra Bradley
09. Caryl Firth
09. Rita Ginsky
09. Anne Killilea
09. Lynn Epstein
09. Sonia Alexandra
09. Suzanne Turner
09. Sandy Howard
09. Geraldine McCauley
09. Trudy Crowetz
09. Karen Connery-Albert

Second Flight

01. Allison Worthington
02. Marianne Davidson
03. Janet Schwartz
03. Jane Casey
05. Jan Allison
05. Lynda Bjorklund
05. Joan Therien
05. Marilyn Price
09. Sheila Peterson
09. Mary Hennelly
09. Patricia Richmond
09. Courtenay Rodonets
09. R. Ellen Avellino
09. Pamela Wilson
09. Pamela Myers
09. Mary Jacobson
09. Lorie Tarver
09. Whitney Miller
09. Joan Corey