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2015 USCA AC National Championship

Championship Day by Robert Hurst

Good morning from West Palm Beach. I will be attempting to provide some commentary from the finals until I have to hit the road.

02 May 2015 9:33AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Wifi is a bit slow at the National Croquet Center, so please bear with me.

02 May 2015 9:34AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

The Doubles championship is under way with Maloof and Bast playing Cumming and Soo.

Cumming failed to attempt a Rover peel on the second break of game 1 and Maloof hit the lift.

02 May 2015 9:35AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

He is currently under control head to 5. Clips are Bast (B) for 2, Cumming (Y) for peg and Soo (R) for rover.

02 May 2015 9:36AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

The Plate knockout is underway with 8 players playing a single game KO, and the singles final will begin at the conclusion of the doubles.

02 May 2015 9:37AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Weather is cool and breezy, and there is a lot of club play going on on the outer lawns of the Center.

02 May 2015 9:38AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Bast and Maloof have a short discussion about the leave they intend to create.

02 May 2015 9:44AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Conditions for the week have been relatively average with all the rain that the lawns have received, but the ground around the hoops has been highly unpredictable.

Each lawn also has at least one boundary that has been patched with sod and makes playing from or to it very random.

02 May 2015 9:53AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Leave is a reverse diagonal with Y (Cumming) by the peg and R (Soo) just of the East boundary just N of H6.

02 May 2015 9:54AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

WiFi went down.

Correction: R was just N of level with H5, not H6.

Soo lifted R, hit Y by the peg and finished game 1, +16.

02 May 2015 10:14AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Opening of G2 was K to standard opening, Y to just N of C4, U missed to C
4, R missed to C4. U (Soo) built the break and is underway through 3, should have control.

02 May 2015 10:16AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

I've fetched my hotspot from the car and should have considerably more reliable data service going forward.

02 May 2015 10:17AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Leave will likely be a Diagonal Spread, Jeff Calls Brian to the lawn to have a look. R is at the peg and Y is 3 yards off the West boundary slightly N of Peg.

02 May 2015 10:32AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

U is for 4b, all other clips for 1.

02 May 2015 10:33AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Bast looks to see if R is wired from Y.

02 May 2015 10:33AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jim and David talk a bit and Jim lifts R to C3.

02 May 2015 10:34AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Nope lifts to 5 yards west of C3...

02 May 2015 10:34AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Stalks

02 May 2015 10:34AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

casts

02 May 2015 10:34AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

shoots

02 May 2015 10:35AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Misses the on court ball to 2 feet west of C4.

02 May 2015 10:35AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Rothman, seated nearby seems awfully confused by the decision to shoot the in lawn ball...

02 May 2015 10:36AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

K (Cumming) rushes U to Y, sends U to 2 and rushes Y poorly to 1. Finishes 5 yards west of 1. Takes off and fails to get position.

02 May 2015 10:38AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jeff comes onto the lawn and Briand and Jeff discuss plan B.

02 May 2015 10:38AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

K retreats to U in lawn. Comes up short of the spot he wanted. Y (Maloof, Clip at H1) goes out and weighs the options.

02 May 2015 10:40AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Appears to be shooting at K...

It's about 14 yards...

Misses at least 6 inches left of target. Finishes on the North boundary 5 yards E of C2.

02 May 2015 10:42AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

K rushes U to the boundary directly N of H2.

Takes off to a rush on Y to R in C4. Rushes into R.

02 May 2015 10:43AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Canon is forthcoming...

02 May 2015 10:44AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Just played for a tight rush on R to H1. Leaving Y 1 foot NW of C4...

02 May 2015 10:45AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Makes H1 with a forward rush.

02 May 2015 10:45AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Tries to get position at H2 sending red 1.5 yards NE of 6. Makes the hoop to U...

A few more good shots to get everything organized.

02 May 2015 10:47AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Rushes R to 3 yards S of H3.

02 May 2015 10:47AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Takeoff fades East...Angled hoop shot coming up...

Blobs.

02 May 2015 10:49AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jim stands to play R.

Clips are R (Bast) and Y (Maloof) for 1. K (Cumming) for 3, and U (Soo) for 4B.

02 May 2015 10:50AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Bast has first refusal.

02 May 2015 10:51AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Hits.

02 May 2015 10:51AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Taking off to Y just out of C4.

02 May 2015 10:51AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Goes just over the line on the south boundary.

02 May 2015 10:53AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Soo hits Y from just NW of H3.

02 May 2015 10:53AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

The USCA is brining out the Stark Cup. The Cup rests on a beautiful base that was turned by Steve Johnston, who recently passed away. Steve was missed this week and will continue to
be for a long time to come.

02 May 2015 10:56AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jeff is finishing his leave. K has a rush to H3, R is 4 yards SE of H3, and Y is 5 yards west of C4 a few feet north of the boundary.

02 May 2015 10:58AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jim finessed to C2. Brian makes H3 but fails to get a useful rush. Rolls B to NE of H5 going to Y.

02 May 2015 11:02AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Manges to cut Y to 1.5 yards SW of H4. Takeoff upcoming.

02 May 2015 11:03AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Good takeoff but fails the hoops badly.

02 May 2015 11:04AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Y (Maloof) hits K. Discussion commences.

02 May 2015 11:05AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

David send K 2.5 yards east of 6, overrushes to H1, but makes a great approach.

02 May 2015 11:09AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Makes H1, but has a 7ish yard return roquet to U.

02 May 2015 11:10AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

David elects to shoot at R in C2 instead of back at U. Hits.

02 May 2015 11:11AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Rolls R to H3 and roquets K on the croquet stroke.

02 May 2015 11:12AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Rolls K to a bit west of H4, angled rush on U to H2. Gets it to 3 yards north of Peg.

02 May 2015 11:14AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Plays a defensive roll in which striker ball comes up short. Immediately looks to partner ball and Jim walks onto the lawn to give David a spot.

02 May 2015 11:14AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Clips update:

Y (Maloof) H2
R (Bast) H1
K (Cumming) H4
U (Soo) 4B

02 May 2015 11:15AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jeff misses to 6 yards west of C4.

02 May 2015 11:17AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Bast (R) hits Y and takes off to U.

02 May 2015 11:18AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Sends U to H2, pretty good rush on K to H1.

02 May 2015 11:19AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Over approaches, gets down on the ground to have a look at the angle.

Takes on the hoop.

The ball bobbles and stays in the jaws.

02 May 2015 11:20AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Brian walks on to look at K's shot at R.

02 May 2015 11:21AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jeff walks on to have a talk.

02 May 2015 11:21AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Must not be able to see much of R at all.

02 May 2015 11:22AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Finally decides to shoot at R. Carroms of the eastern wire and ends up 2 yards west of the center line on the south boundary.

02 May 2015 11:24AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

JIm calls for a referee, must not be in the jaws. Easy shot. Goes to very near U at H2.

02 May 2015 11:25AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

A few folks walk through Jim's line and he backs off the shot. Hits U.

02 May 2015 11:25AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Trickles through H2. Hampered on U. Weighing his options.

02 May 2015 11:26AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Hits U and takes of out of bounds going to K.

02 May 2015 11:29AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Brian (K) hits R and pauses to survey the lawn. He's for H4 and Blue is north of 2 Y is close to the north boundary and 4 yards from the eastern boundary.

02 May 2015 11:31AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Takes of to Y.

02 May 2015 11:32AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Kicks Y in a bit taking off to U.

Rushes U to the western boundary just south of level with H6.

Rolls both balls slightly north looking for a wired spot from Y.

02 May 2015 11:35AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jim walks onto the lawn confidently. Shooting at K.

02 May 2015 11:36AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Casting...

Takes a gentle curve to the right and misses into C2.

02 May 2015 11:37AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Briand (K) rushes U to NW of Y.

Sends U to west of H6 and gets a tight rush to H4.

02 May 2015 11:39AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Over hits it slightly and has a sideways take off approach from a yard west of 4.

Also, another correction. U is east of H6.

02 May 2015 11:40AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Brian makes H4 and rushes Y 8 yards SSE of H5. Good approach...

Another poor hoop stroke misses badly.

02 May 2015 11:41AM (Tournament); 1 Readers

David (Y), for H2, hits K and rolls it toward H3. Has a longish rush to either R in C2 or his hoop.

02 May 2015 11:43AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

U ends up a yard or so N of H2. Takes off to R in C2. Appears to be lining up to get position at 2 while sending R away south of H1.

02 May 2015 11:45AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Gets long position at H2. Stalks, and approaches it. A big gust of wind comes and he backs off. A brief discussion with Jim and they seem to favor returning to R south of H1.

02 May 2015 11:46AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

After the discussion, David elects to shoot H2 and fails.

02 May 2015 11:47AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff (U) is up and onto the lawn.

02 May 2015 11:47AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

U rushes Y to a yard or 2 N of C1.

Y is sent to a couple yards east of 4.

Leaves red near C1, going to K.

02 May 2015 11:52AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Rushes K to north boundary east of H4. Looking for potential wired spots.

02 May 2015 11:53AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Settles on a spot on the north boundary a bit west of H2. Looks as though U and K may be wired or partially wired from both oppo balls.

02 May 2015 11:55AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David and Jeff weigh their options.

02 May 2015 11:56AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David and Jim, sorry. An edit feature would be nice.

02 May 2015 11:56AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David (Y) finesses into C3.

02 May 2015 11:59AM (Tournament); 2 Readers

U and K have made at least 3 leaves that have been missed while I was eating lunch. Clips are still the same.

02 May 2015 12:12PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

R hits K. Jim is deliberating. David walks on to have a chat.

02 May 2015 12:15PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

K and U were in the western middle of the lawn. R shot from very near C4. Y is very close to C3. R sends K to H4, getting a rush on U to H3. U ends up in perfect position.

02 May 2015 12:17PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jim has made hoops 3, 4, and 5 and is under control. He hasn't yet dug Y out of C3.

02 May 2015 12:20PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Makes H6, was trying to get a controlled rush to C3. Hampered. Calls on the referee.

02 May 2015 12:21PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Good shot. Walks over to Y. He's weighing his options. U is the 1b pioneer and sits 2 feet SW of the hoop.

Jim takes off to Y in C3.

02 May 2015 12:23PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

He left K a few yards NE of H6.

02 May 2015 12:24PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Rolls Y to good pioneer position at 2b, but R goes way long.

6 yard shot on U at 1b.

Misses.

02 May 2015 12:25PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Brian (K) has a 3 yarder at R. Hits.

02 May 2015 12:25PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Takes off to U and rushes it SW of Y.

Sends U nearly peg high getting a rush on Y to H5.

Good rush.

02 May 2015 12:27PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Makes 5 and has all the balls in the western middle portion on the lawn. Should be a break to peg.

02 May 2015 12:28PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Completely organized as he approaches H6.

02 May 2015 12:28PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

It appears Ben Rothman and Matthew Essick are playing a consolation game. Ben is away on a third turn break on the lawn adjacent to the finals lawn.

02 May 2015 12:41PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Brian has made rover and looks to be creating a flattish DSL. Sends R to inside the yard line on the west boundary.

Y by the peg.

U and K to a yard or so north of C2 with a rush pointed toward 4b.

02 May 2015 12:46PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Clips reminder:

U (Soo) 4b
K (Cumming) peg
R (Maloof) 1b
Y (Bast) H2

02 May 2015 12:47PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

eeks, I got David and Jim's colors reversed.

David lifts Y and shoots from the end of A baulk.

02 May 2015 12:48PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Misses.

02 May 2015 12:48PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jeff is standing by as David marks Y in.

02 May 2015 12:49PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jeff sends Y in lawn as he gets a tight rush to 4b.

02 May 2015 12:50PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Perfect shot. Approaching 4b from a foot straight on.

02 May 2015 12:50PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Runs the hoop with control. Slight cut to penult.

02 May 2015 12:51PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Ends up a foot or so SW of penult.

02 May 2015 12:51PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Wicked curl on the take off leaves a harder shot than I wold have predicted.

02 May 2015 12:52PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Trickles through, mallet immediately goes up.

02 May 2015 12:52PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jim takes a look at the shot and tells Jeff there is no need for a referee. Jeff marks the balls and then easily rushes K to a yard and a half SE of rover.

02 May 2015 12:53PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Reverse take off gets a slightly favorable bobble this time and Jeff makes rover.

02 May 2015 12:54PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

N
o rush to the peg.

02 May 2015 12:54PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Rushes K to C4.

02 May 2015 12:54PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

R is still on the west boundary 12 yards or so south of C2.

02 May 2015 12:55PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Jeff takes off and rushes Y off the east boundary a yard or so south of the peg. Considering options. Brian and Jeff walk toward each other and begin to point around the lawn.

02 May 2015 12:57PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

U and K are for peg and peg. R and Y are still for 1b and H2.

02 May 2015 12:57PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff takes off and leaves yellow were it was. Gives K a rush to the peg.

02 May 2015 12:58PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jim and David have a couple relatively short options to keep the game and the match alive.

02 May 2015 12:58PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jim lifts R to the end of A baulk.

Casts...

Misses black.

That should be it.

Brian walks out for what should just be a formality.

02 May 2015 12:59PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

4 yard peg out upcoming.

02 May 2015 1:00PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Center peg.

Jeff Soo and Brian Cumming are the 2015 USCA AC Nationals Doubles Champions.

02 May 2015 1:02PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

The singles will start shortly between Jeff and David. I will provide commentary until I have to hit the road and head home.

02 May 2015 1:03PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Pretty good crowd forming. I'd estimate 50 people are finishing lunch inside and outside. Most are paying some attention to the croquet.

02 May 2015 1:12PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Looks like Ben failed at H2 on his second break. Matthew is getting around.

02 May 2015 1:15PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David wins the toss and takes play. Jeff will play R and Y.

02 May 2015 1:27PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David plays U to standard position. Jeff plays R to outside C2.

02 May 2015 1:28PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

The Finals are underway.

02 May 2015 1:28PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David shoots K at U.

02 May 2015 1:28PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Misses an inch or 2 to the right.

02 May 2015 1:29PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff lines up with Y at the end of A baulk as David sets K in...

U and K are in contact.

02 May 2015 1:30PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff hits U, which scatters K about 7 yards north, an inch or so outside the yard line.

02 May 2015 1:31PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Not sure how, but Rothman is back on the lawn against Essick.

02 May 2015 1:32PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff takes off to a rush on K. K goes to the middle of the north boundary.

02 May 2015 1:32PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff sends black to 4 or 5 yards northwest of H1 and roquets R in C2.

02 May 2015 1:33PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff rolls Y and R to north of H2 with a rush pointed north of U, which sits a yard or so off the east boundary a yard north of H4.

02 May 2015 1:36PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David appears to be looking to see if he can see all of U with K.

02 May 2015 1:37PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Lines up the shot and starts to cast before backing off.

02 May 2015 1:37PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Now takes aim at R. Shoots...

Misses.

02 May 2015 1:37PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff hits black and sends it to H2. Tight rush on Y to H1 is perfect.

02 May 2015 1:39PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff is away and should get round.

02 May 2015 1:40PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff's leave is U on the west boundary between H6 and peg, R just south of C2, Y in C4, and K 14 yards N of C4 about 18 inches in lawn.

02 May 2015 1:59PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Correction: U is about 6 inches in lawn.

02 May 2015 2:00PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Ben has quit the lawn for peg and penult. Matthew has hit with the back ball, forward clip is for 3b.

02 May 2015 2:01PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David shoots U at R in C2 and misses.

02 May 2015 2:05PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Danny Huneycutt is playing Simon Jenkins for the right to face Stuart Lawrence in the plate final.

02 May 2015 2:05PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Essick is in control and will be attempting a quad against Rothman.

02 May 2015 2:06PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff leaves U in C2 and takes off to K. Sends K to H1 going to Y.

02 May 2015 2:07PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Essick dribbles the 3b peel through after 3.

02 May 2015 2:08PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff rolls R and Y 5 or so yards north of C4. trying to find a spot wired from K.

02 May 2015 2:09PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David shoots K at R and Y and misses.

02 May 2015 2:11PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff (Y) makes H1 with a forward rush.

02 May 2015 2:14PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

rushes red off the north boundary.

02 May 2015 2:14PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Essick fails to make 1b

02 May 2015 2:14PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff (Y) takes off to U in C2.

02 May 2015 2:15PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff sends I to H3 and tries to get in front of H2.

Angled attempt.

02 May 2015 2:16PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Trickles through, but should be able to see R on the north boundary.

02 May 2015 2:16PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Maybe not...

He's look at sweep options. R is easily 7 yards away from Y.

02 May 2015 2:17PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Referee comes on.

Good effort, but it just misses.

Jeff takes a seat and David walks onto the lawn.

02 May 2015 2:19PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David shoots U from near H3 and hits Y.

02 May 2015 2:21PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David sends Y to a bit north of H2, rushes R to 8 yards N of K.

He takes off to get a rush on K.

U slides past K and has a rush pointed nowhere.

Touches K and rolls across to H1. Doesn't get position.

Looking for a spot for U that doesn't give away any doubles.

02 May 2015 2:25PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

R is just in lawn middle of the east boundary. Y is 4 yards NNW of H
2. U is 1 yard S of H1 and K is 2.5 yards SE of H1.

02 May 2015 2:26PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Jeff shoots Y
into C4.

02 May 2015 2:27PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

Rothman wins the consolation game against Matthew Essick.

02 May 2015 2:28PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David (K) makes 1 rushes to R, makes H2 and then rolls R to 4 and cuts U towards the hoop from 9 yards south of H3. 2 yards reverse takeoff upcoming.

02 May 2015 2:31PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

18 inch straight position.

02 May 2015 2:31PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David has full control now and should equalize.

02 May 2015 2:32PM (Tournament); 2 Readers

David is making his leave. It will be a DSL with Y at the peg.

Clips areas follows:

Maloof U:H1 and K:4b
Soo Y:3 and R:4b

02 May 2015 2:46PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

Thats it for me.. Huneycutt beat Jenkins in the Plate KO semis. We're on the road.

02 May 2015 2:47PM (Tournament); 1 Readers

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