The 2016 North American Open at the Sonoma Cutrer Winery lawns is being contested for the 15th straight year after a 17 year run of the Sonoma Cutrer World Championships at the same venue. This year's date was moved forward to the last week in April to fit between the World Croquet championship, which was held in Florida, the week before and the upcoming World team golf championships in England.

The event is a championship flight tourney with 8 players. Wayne Davies, native Aussie, and current tennis and croquet pro at the Nantucket Island club and Nelson Morrow, native Kiwi, bring an international flavor to this year's tourney. Tim Hanks welcomed his second child, Lylah Rose, on the eve of the tourney and got Mom and Baby home the day before play started. Leo Nikora, Jim Butts, and Steve Mossbrook provide a strong showing from the Mission Hills club. US Croquet Hall of Famers, Erv Peterson and Mike Orgill complete this year's field. Mike assured his spot as the reigning North American Amateur Champion.

The tournament will be played as a full round robin. The top 4 round robin finishers will play in a double elimination knockout round to determine the champion. Super hoops and Dawson balls will be used.

There were some last minute adjustments made up to the eve of the tourney that effected both the field and first round action. Mike Orgill, had double Grandparent babysitting commitments, the first day of the tourney so completed his 3 Wednesday games early on Sunday and Tuesday. Tim Hanks, due to the imminent birth of his daughter was unable to commit until the night before the tourney when everyone was finally home safely. Steve Mossbrook was a last minute fill-in for Jim Hanks who was both excited to welcome his new Granddaughter and recovering from a lingering health issue. Jeff Hill, the Tournament Director, did an amazing job pulling the final schedule together with all the above uncertainties.

First day action saw a fair amount of give and take as the players got used to the playing conditions. At the end of day 1, Wayne, Nelson, Tim, Leo, Jim and Erv were all tied at the top with 2-1 making it anyone's tourney and making day 2 round robin play critical to achieving one of the 4 spots that would move forward to the double elimination knockout starting on Friday afternoon.