Posted 29 August 2005 to State Championships, Tournaments by Danny HuneycuttMeadows Mallet Club—three-time NC Club Teams champions Photo by Ruthie Windsor-Mann
July 28–31: Linville, NC
The setting for the tenth annual North Carolina Club Teams Championship was second to none as Grandfather Mountain, Linville Ridge, and Eseeola croquet clubs once again hosted the event. 113 players and guests attended, enjoying a high-mountain respite from the simmering heat elsewhere in the state. The clubs provided delicious lunches throughout the week, and Eseeola Lodge hosted a wonderful Friday evening with poolside drinks followed by dinner and dessert. Not to be outdone, Grandfather Mountain Golf and Country Club served a buffet brunch with a beautiful croquet ice sculpture as the centerpiece during the final stages of the tournament Sunday. David and Mieke Maloof did an outstanding job of directing the tournament and social events.
Meadows Mallet Club achieved the improbable by winning their third consecutive North Carolina Club Team Championship, scoring at least one team point in each of the six flights. Bald Head Island Croquet Club again placed a close second, while High Country Croquet Club took third, and Pinehurst Croquet Club placed fourth. Etowah Croquet Club and Stoneridge Croquet Club completed the final standings. High Country Croquet Club is a newly formed club consisting of the three Linville clubs.
Going into the playoffs, four teams were in good position to win the team title. Pinehurst appeared to have the edge after block play, with seven teams seeded 4th or higher. Tournament experience proved to be the key to success, with Bald Head Island and Meadows Mallet advancing on a collision course. Bald Head Island stalwarts Bill and Billie Jean Berne eliminated Danny Huneycutt and Hugh Barger of Meadows Mallet to advance to the Championship flight finals against High Country’s David Maloof and Bill Denton. The Hall of Fame couple was in top form in the finals, returning to the winners circle after a two year absence. The Etowah team of Kurt Valentine and Laura Burgin won 1st flight for the third consecutive year, as Pinehurst’s Bob Whitmore and Allen Langley came in second with an impressive tournament. Laura once again showed the potential of being one of the top female players in America. There were plenty of sideline debates concerning her potential of becoming a strong championship flight player if she chooses to play on a regular basis.
The 2nd flight finals was another showdown between the top two clubs, as BHI’s John Knott and Dick Johnston defeated Meadows’ Jon Essick and Jeff Brinkley, giving BHI a clear edge in the three lower-handicap flights. In the 3rd flight finals the Meadows duo of Becky Essick and Tom Yates defeated BHI’s Joe and Marilyn Ridgeway. The 4th flight final became most critical as Meadows Soup Campbell and Tony (The Plumber) Reaves defeated BHI’s Bob and Judy Porter.
Thus the critical difference became the unlikely 5th flight grandfather/grandson pairing from Meadows Mallet Club—Casper and Matthew Essick. Matthew, six years old, had never played an American 6-Wicket game, even in practice. But he is thoroughly familiar with his mallet and croquet balls, as he and Casper have had a daily regimen of golf croquet for the past 9 months. With Casper’s guidance and Matthew’s shooting ability they swept through their matches with only two losses, both to High Country’s Lucy Greene and Dotie Cook. Lucy and Dotie captured first place when Dotie made the 2-back wicket from eight feet, last ball of last turn. Casper and Matthew garnered the four team points needed for Meadows to capture the 2005 North Carolina Club Teams Championship and have their club name engraved on the Mack Penwell trophy. There’s a reason Casper’s teammates call him “Cap’n”.
