The 2021 Volume 3 Digital Edition of the USCA's Croquet News is now available for viewing as an eMag. This fall edition features Damon Bidencope's recap of his recent visit to lead instructional sessions in Buckhead, Georgia. The fall issue also includes coverage of National Croquet Day, GC Eights, Southeast Regionals and the Florida GC Regional. Readers will also find a profile on Dan Pailas as well as full bios for 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees Jim Bast and Mohammad Kamal.
Read MoreSoo #07: Trifecta for Morgan
Stephen Morgan and Danny Huneycutt overcame a game-one loss to win the doubles title. Morgan then made it a sweep by winning the singles 2-0. Morgan becomes the current holder of three USCA national titles.
Daniel Pailas won the singles Plate. He won his final game with a delayed triple peel to clinch the award.
The doubles final featured a wild three-ball finish, +1. The singles final was more one-sided, Morgan tripling in game 1 and controlling most of game 2. Soo had a chance to get back into the match after Morgan didn't quite finish another triple, but Morgan made yet another long hit-in to put the match away, +24tp, +16.
SINGLES KNOCKOUT SCORES
Quarterfinals
Jeff Soo 26-14, 26-5 over Danny Huneycutt
Stuart Lawrence 26-14, 26-11 over Dan Pailas
Brian Cumming 26tp-0, 25-26, 26-10 over Chris Patmore
Stephen Morgan 26-13, 23-26, 26-15 over Simon Jenkins
Semifinals
Jeff Soo 26-8, 26-9 over Stuart Lawrence
Stephen Morgan 26tp-0, 26-19 over Brian Cumming
Final
Stephen Morgan 26tp-2, 26-10 over Jeff Soo
FULL EVENT RESULTS
croquetscores.com/2017/ac/us-national-championship/singles-ko
Soo #05: AC Nationals Down to Four
In the singles quarterfinals, Danny Huneycutt's uncharacteristically shaky form continued, which allowed me to win 2-0. Dan Pailas gave plenty of fight but likewise went down 2-0 to Stuart Lawrence. Brian Cumming v. Chris Patmore opened with a quick Cumming triple, but Patmore fought back with an extended 3-ball ending and leveled the match. The third game was more error-prone, Cumming winning. Simon Jenkins v. Stephen Morgan had some similarities, particularly in the error-prone game 3. Morgan survived, ending an impressive run by Jenkins, who had started the singles blocks 0-4.
The singles plate is underway as a flexible Swiss. Jim Bast and Wayne Davies are undefeated.
The pegged-down doubles match had to wait for the end of the Jenkins v. Morgan quarterfinal, leaving just over an hour to play. The match has once again been pegged down in game 2, and will resume first thing Friday.
Jeff Soo vs Stuart Lawrence
Brian Cumming vs Stephen Morgan
2017 USCA AC Nationals Singles Knockout:
croquetscores.com/2017/ac/us-national-championship/singles-ko
Soo #04: AC Nationals-Into The Knockout
When Simon Jenkins beat Ian Harshman in the final round of the block, he made three people very happy: himself, Mike Taylor, and Sherif Abdelwahab, all of whom were now in a playoff for 4th place in Block B. And he made two other people, well, sigh in resignation: Harshman, who would be the fourth player in that playoff, and the tournament manager.
And, five hours later, Jenkins was still smiling, having played his way into the main singles knockout. He and Taylor then began their doubles semi-final with Danny Huneycutt and Stephen Morgan. Huneycutt and Morgan won the first game, and the match has been pegged down in game 2.
Meanwhile, the other doubles semi-final was able to start much earlier. Stuart Lawrence and Jeff Soo beat Wayne Davies and Daniel Pailas in two games. Lawrence tripled to finish the first, adding to the day's relative flurry of peeling.
The knockout shapes up as follows:
Jeff Soo vs Danny Huneycutt
Daniel Pailas vs Stuart Lawrence
Brian Cumming vs Chris Patmore
Simon Jenkins vs Stephen Morgan
Full Results: croquetscores.com/2017/ac/us-national-championship
Soo #03: Tiebreakers Dead Ahead
While there were some faster games today, there were still plenty of games going to time, including a 14-11 barn-burner in which Jenkins played Aunt Emma tactics to beat Pailas. Pailas has now beaten the top four seeds in his block but lost to two of the lower-ranked players; he can guarantee a spot in the knockout by winning his final game. A four-way tie for second place remains possible in this block. As does a four-way tie for fourth place. Which could also happen in the other block. The manager rather hopes that none of these scenarios transpires. But it does look highly likely that playoff games will be needed to determine the Elite Eight.
Some key matches for the final block games:
Huneycutt v. Lawrence: Lawrence is already in the KO; Huneycutt needs a win, or a loss from Bast.
Bast v. Osborn: An Osborn win and a Huneycutt loss creates at least a three-way tie for fourth in Block A
Patmore v. Morgan: Morgan is already in; Patmore assures himself a spot by winning
Cumming v. Taylor: Taylor desperately wants a win, although even with a loss he could still make a playoff
Jenkins v. Harshman: Jenkins still has an outside chance to make a playoff with a win; Harshman can guarantee at least a playoff spot with a win
2016 US Open: Cumming Over Grimsley in Five
2016 US Open: Elimination Blocks (Day 4)
2016 US Open: Block Day 3
2016 US Open: Block Day 2
PLAYER JOURNAL FROM LEO NIKORA:
The second day of Block play was another perfect croquet day. Each player played another three games.
2016 US Open: Block Day 1
PLAYER JOURNAL BY LEO NIKORA:
The first day of Block play was perfect croquet weather – cool air and warm sun. Each player played three games.