Team USA’s Kyle Maloof and Tom Balding. Photo by Jeff Soo.
The third day of action at the 2023 Solomon Trophy test being held at the Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Florida, saw the U.S. team take all five matches to push out to a 10-5 lead. As Sunday singles play prepares to get underway, Team USA only needs one win out of six scheduled singles matches to claim their third win in the series.
Read MoreDay two of the 2023 Solomon Trophy test between the U.S. and Great Britain saw the first round of singles split at 3-3 to keep the overall score deadlocked at 5-5. Playing at the Sarasota County Coquet Club (SCCC) in Venice, Florida, Team USA jumped out fast on Friday winning the first game in five out of the six matches.
Read MoreDay one of Solomon Trophy action at the Sarasota County Croquet Club (SCCC) in Venice, Florida, ended with a 2-2 tie between the host U.S. team and Great Britain. Two additional matches are under way with the Tom Balding/Kyle Maloof U.S. duo taking a 26-11 win in game one over GB’s Gabrielle Higgins and Debbie Lines. Matthew Essick/Zack Watson (U.S.) also took game one 26-0 over Alain Giraud and Mark van Loon 26-0.
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World Gold Croquet Champion Matthew Essick
Peachtree Hills Place Croquet Club co-hosted an exhibition match with the United States Croquet Association (USCA) on Sunday, October 15. Reigning GC World Champion Matthew Essick (24) played five-time AC National Champion Stephen Morgan (35) in an exciting exhibition match that was announced by USCA President Damon Bidencope.
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First Eight Winner Stephen Morgan
The final day of the 2023 USCA Selection Eights held at the National Croquet Center had key games played in both the First Eight and Second Eight. In the First, Stephen Morgan started the morning by picking up the one win he needed to clinch the First Eight title. He took care of business early with a 26tp-4 win over Sherif Abdelwahab to secure his first First Eight win. He was 8-4 overall in the event and is ranked fifth in the U.S. player AC rankings and #37 in the world. Morgan says it was his 12th year in the event and first time winning the First Eight.
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Day Three View From Court 8
The 2023 USCA Selection Eights worked through the third day with the the Second and Third Eights now having played 12 of the 14 scheduled games. It looks like the First Eight will be playing 12 games and Stephen Morgan is still at the top of the standings with a 7-3 record. On Sunday morning, he still has Zack Watson (5-5) and Sherif Abdelwahab (4-6) to play.
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Brian Cumming in play on day two in the First Eight
The 2023 USCA Selection Eights moved through Day Two yesterday and with eight of 14 games in the books for the Second and Third Eights. In the First Eight, Stephen Morgan is at the top of the standings with a 4-2 record, but Brian Cumming, Doug Grimsley and Randy Cardo are close behind at 4-3. Rich Lamm is a scratch, so that seems to be impacting the number of games played for the group.
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The 2023 edition of the USCA Selection Eights kicked off yesterday with three groups. It’s definitely a smaller overall group than expected, with five groups of eight being more of the standard. I suspect the recent AC Worlds and next year’s GC Worlds set for October in the U.S. are having an impact. Top players might be looking to shift more playing time and travel budget to GC to prepare for next fall.
Read MoreThe USCA has announced a new American Rules Six Wicket School to be held at Sarasota County Croquet Club from December 12-14, 2023, offering croquet players a unique opportunity to enhance their skills and strategy.
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CREDIT: istock.com/Robert vt Hoenderdaal
A few weeks ago, I had my first opportunity to be a part of a croquet match that utilized an actual shot clock. We were holding a best-of-two semifinal for the Kansas City Croquet Club Club Singles Championship with the format being nine-wicket croquet played according to MCA Advanced Nine-Wicket Croquet Rules with handicaps.
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