"Bob decided to go after the two balls Ben left in the first corner. After carefully stalking, Bob stunned the crowd by roqueting his yellow ball with enough touch to keep it on the court. The crowd erupted."
enough away. Bob decided to go after the two balls Ben left in the first corner. After carefully stalking, Bob stunned the crowd by roqueting his yellow ball with enough touch to keep it on the court. The crowd erupted. Bob had a three-ball break and ran it all the way around with his red ball. Even better, he set up a doom groom so good that young Ben had to hide his black ball in the first corner. Bob went on another break all around the court with his yellow ball and pegged out in short order. Understanding the magnitude of the upset, the crowd burst out in cheers. Even better, young Ben, who just the week before had Bob as a student in one of his popular croquet clinics, rushed onto the court to hug Bob and proclaim him as champion. Because Bob is such a popular figure at Mission Hills, the number of well-wishers began to resemble a reception line for foreign dignitaries.
this season. However, by doing so, Bob may have also done in his nickname. It’s hard to be a sandbagger when everyone knows you’re great. Bob’s croquet talent, once a well-kept secret in the desert, is now out for public consumption. Let the croquet world no longer be surprised by his exploits.
In the consolation match of the Championship Singles, Ron Hendry beat his old friend and croquet rival Jim Butts by one wicket, earning the victory on the last shot of the last ball in last turns. Ron and Jim have played each other so many times in so many tournaments, they couldn’t even remember who had won the last time they played against each other in a play-off.
In the finals of the First Flight Singles, Steve Mossbrook defeated Chris Christian, who had an off day and never seemed to be able to get a good break going. Bob Kays defeated Conrad Haas in the consolation game.
The finals of the Second Flight Singles saw fellow Mission Hills members Marvin Salles and Dick Engebretson square off yet again. Despite being good friends and frequent doubles partners, Marvin and Dick are also rivals. The game they played was a tough, defensive struggle, in which even a casual observer could see the two had too much respect for each other to be aggressive. Marvin won by a single wicket. This is the second year in a row that Marvin has won this flight of the Mission Hills Invitational. In the consolation match, Jonathan Andrews from Alabama defeated Mission Hills veteran Mary Rodeburg.
This is the third major event at Mission Hills that Bob has won
2010 MISSION HILLS INVITATIONAL RESULTS
Championship Singles
1. Bob Van Tassell 2. Ben Rothman 3. Ron Hendry 4. Jim Butts
First Flight Singles
1. Steve Mossbrook 2. Chris Christian 3. Bob Kays 4. Conrad Haas
Second Flight Singles
1. Marvin Salles 2. Dick Engebretson 3. Jonathan Andrews 4. Mary Rodeberg
Championship Doubles
1. Donna Dixon 2. Horace Hayworth 3. Bob Chilton 4. Bob Van Tassell
Challenger Doubles
1. Peter Bock 2. Dick Engebretson 3. Marvin Salles
Waterford doubles were also played in the Championship flight, as well as a combination of the First and Second Flights labeled the Challenger flight. Donna Dixon won the Championship flight, and Peter Bock the Challenger flight. Other notable finishers were Bob Van Tassell’s fourth place performance in the Championship flight, and Dick Engebretson nudging out Marvin Salles for second in the Challenger flight.
Writer and photographer Eric Sawyer is a member of the Pasadena Croquet Club. He serves on both the USCA Nine-Wicket and Communications Committees and also teaches nine-wicket croquet courses through the City of South Pasadena and Pasadena Community College.
croquetnetwork.com | april 2010 |
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