LEE'S SUMMIT, MISSOURI -- With the challenging turf at Howard Park, the Lee's Summit T-Bone Tournament lines out to be the MCA's equivalent to cycling's Paris Roubaix. On Saturday, the cool temperatures and steady winds added to the atmosphere as 25 dedicated croquet players took to the courts across four divisions.
The Pro Division lived up to the epic conditions as Matt Griffith met Greg Clouse in the final. Griffith was looking for his sixth tournament win while Clouse continued his quest for his first title since the 2013 Stilwell Open. As the game developed, Griffith seemed to have the advantage, but Clouse carefully clawed his way back into the game and in the final minutes held a 20-16 lead off a break that ran out from the turn to 13PW.
The Gold Division for the 2016 Lee's Summit Tournament will have two blocks of three players. The top two players from each block will advance to the playoffs. Schedule follows:
A BLOCK
8:30 AM - J. Adams / E. Mondt
9:45 AM - S.J. Cole / E. Mondt
11:00 AM - J. Adams / S.J. Cole
B BLOCK
8:30 AM - N. Oberg / E. Kemp
9:45 AM - S. Jackson / E. Kemp
11:00 AM - N. Oberg / S. Jackson
PLAYOFFS:
SEMIFINALS - 1:00 PM
A1 vs B2, B1 vs A2
FINAL - 2:15 PM
Updated website information on the Lee's Summit T-Bone Tournament will appear here:
midwestcroquet.com/missouri-croquet/tag/lees-summit-t-bone-tournament
Use #MCA9WS for the most up to date news on social media.
KANSAS CITY, MO -- MCA member Matt Griffith won the 42nd Annual Kansas City Invitational on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri. The event is six-ball (cutthroat) and is likely the longest active running croquet tournament in the US. In 2013, the Palm Beach Invitational celebrated its 45th year, but there is no report of the event running again since that year.
The MCA had 11 members participate in the 30-player event with Griffith, Ellie Kemp, Dylan Goodwin, Greg Adams, Jodi Adams, Billy Bob Breeden, Debbie Breeden, Ron Millican, Deborah Millican, Greg Clouse and Jason Johnson all on hand.
The event was held at Fast Eddie Mondt's private residence on two courts. The southern court featured a steep downhill at the turn wickets that provided a challenge all day for players -- funneling most balls that approached directly out of bounds behind the turn stake. Players got two games and the top 12 by place points advanced to two six-player semifinals. From there the top three advanced from each game to the final.
The MCA supports all competitive croquet events in the midwest and all of the players that participated enjoyed the event.
FINALS LINE-UP
Matt Griffith (W)
Billy Bob Breeden
Greg Clouse
Art Hatchey
Deborah Millican
Ron Millican
PARKVILLE, MO -- This past Saturday, Matt Griffith plowed through the field for his fifth straight MCA tournament title and capped the day with a 32-11 win against Deborah Millican in the Kansas City Open Pro Division final. The event had 21 players overall with 11 in the Silver and Bronze Divisions.
PHOTO GALLERY | OFFICIAL SCORESHEET
The Pro/Gold Division utilized two blocks and Griffith ran through the A Block with a 4-0 record. Deborah Millican gave him the toughest challenge in the morning action, but she eventually fell 18-16. That was Griffith's first game of the day and he then found his groove and notched three pegouts in his final five games.
FEB 17
Annual Meeting-Online
05/04
Missouri Open (9W)
Lee's Summit, MO
05/24-05/27
Indian Territory (US/GC)
Tulsa, OK
06/13-06/16
ScissorTail Inv. (US)
Oklahoma City, OK
06/20-06/23
Midwest Regional (US)
Houston, TX
08/30-09/02
Tulsa Classic (US/GC)
Tulsa, OK
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