|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Brian Cumming became the 2005 USCA Player of the Year by narrowly beating two-time winner Jeff Soo. Cumming, the 2004 USCA Singles Champion and the 2005 USCA Doubles Champion, had 22,480 points. Soo, who won his third USCA Singles Championship in 2005, was a scant 115 points behind. Both players were well off the single-season Grand Prix points record of 25,600 set by Soo in 2002.
Over the past few years, Cumming has developed into one of the top players in the game in both American and Association rules, displaying great shooting skills and a calm confidence on the court. He placed fifth in the 2004 Grand Prix after a 29th place finish in 2003. Cumming and Soo were joined in the top five by Mik Mehas, the 1999 Player of the Year (fourth in 2004); Leo McBride, also from Canada; and the 2005 USCA International Rules Singles Champion, Danny Huneycutt (third in 2004). Bill Berne, Rich Curtis, Carl Uhlman, Ron Lloyd and Johnny Mitchell rounded out the top ten.
The Grand Prix competition tracks the performance of players in all USCA sanctioned tournaments over the course of the year. Points are awarded based upon the strength of each tournament, the type of tournament (i.e. national championship, regional, invitational, etc.) and a player’s order of finish. Results from both American and Association Rules are included. However, only the five best singles and doubles results for each player are counted towards the total for the year. The winner of the Player of the Year award in the three to five handicap range was Russell Brown. Brown, a lawyer from Buffalo, New York, was the 2004 USCA Rookie of the Year. Second was Janet Hamilton of Indian Shores, Florida. Anne Coco was third, followed by Len Lyon and Don Mathieson. The six to eight handicap competition was won by another New Yorker, Nancy Reynolds. Reynolds lives in Cooperstown during the summer and Palm Beach when its too cold to play croquet in upstate New York. Three more women placed in the top five with Sheila Davis second, Margaret Cramer fourth and Ann Nolte (yet another New Yorker) fifth. Bob Bozeman from Baton Rouge, Lousiama, placed third. Last year Dan Mol, Jr. proved he was a player to watch when he won the twelve and over handicap range. True to form, he won the nine to eleven category in 2005 and he won it going away. Be forewarned: Dan and his whole croquet playing family will continue to improve in 2006. Alison Streight of Quebec was second and Keppy Babcock of Bald Head Island was third. Tied for fourth were Helen Jones and Carol Neves. Lee Taylor of Arkansas was the winner in the twelve and over handicap group. Taking second place was Susan Morgan. Third place went to Roger Hudson in a demonstration of consistency since he also finished in third last year. Richard Carlstrom was fourth and Betsy Atkins was fifth. The 2006 Grand Prix is underway and you can follow the competition as it unfolds by logging onto the USCA website at www.croquetamerica.com or linking directly to the 2006 Grand Prix tabulations, updated weekly. At whatever level of playing skills, you can compete in the 2006 Grand Prix by entering any USCA sanctioned tournament. Your results will be automatically tabulated and entered throughout the year.
|
Back to Top | Copyright © 1996-2024 Croquet World Online Magazine. All rights reserved. |