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USCA Florida Golf Croquet Regional January 9-12, 2020 Venice, Florida By Cheryl Bromley The 7th annual Florida GC Regional was held this year for the first time at the Sarasota County Croquet Club (SCCC) in Venice, Fla., setting a regional record with 50 players participating in singles and doubles. Players traveled from all over Florida as well as from California, Toronto, Atlanta, North Carolina, New Jersey and the Midwest.
Linda Schiesel and Ray Liberti took out Chris and Karen Weihs in a third/fourth playoff match to reach the top three in first flight doubles action.
Day Two saw the start of the singles block matches in all three flights with players battling to secure a top-four spot in their respective blocks to earn a place in the quarterfinal knockouts. At the end of the day, players The Championship Flight Doubles Final ran headed to a catered BBQ dinner to relax and out of daylight after completing just one game enjoy more fantastic southern hospitality. on the first day in a two-out-of-three game match and went the distance taking three days Day Three featured impressive matchups in to complete. In the end, it was Matt Griffith block play and the start of the quarterfinals and Steve Jackson who prevailed with terrific for Championship Flight. The order of finish shooting to take out Macey White and Cheryl in the blocks was based on win/loss records, Bromley 4-7, 7-4, 7-4. then by net points and, if necessary, by head-
Prior to the start of the event, a complimentary strategy and shot-making clinic was held on Wednesday afternoon with 30 local players and event participants. The clinic was taught by Matt Griffith, Macey White, Ellie Griffith and Cheryl Bromley. A total of 250 matches were played during the four-day tournament and the dedicated members of the SCCC volunteered their time to make sure all players were well taken care of by providing daily breakfasts, lunches, refreshments and the popular “attitude adjustment” social time every afternoon. Another hard-working crew of volunteers saw to it that all six courts were ready for play as soon as the sun came up. Day One was all about doubles with matches in Championship and First Flight that included consolation rounds.
Doubles Champions (left to right): Steve Jackson, Matt “Mahomes” Griffith, Cheryl Bromley and Macey White
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