March 23–26: Pinehurst Resort & Country Club

Eileen Soo added to her collection of Association Croquet titles by winning the 2006 NC Open Championship Qualifier. In a tournament that featured many close games, Soo controlled the final from start to finish, winning 26–0.

Pinehurst club members Horace Hayworth, Jack Stevens, and Kathy Kuhasz rounded out the top four, in a strong showing for the host club.

The tournament was contested as a single flight of 19 players. Eight rounds in a flexible Swiss format were followed by a simple knockout for the top eight. The remaining players continued the Swiss as a consolation event.

Jane Beharriell, from Toronto, played the maximum possible eleven games. Frank Thompson, Bill Hartmann, and Tony Reaves also ensured they will appear on the next World Ranking list by playing the requisite ten games.

In the final match, Soo hit her standard tice on turn 4, then used classic conservative tactics to make sure Hayworth faced only long shots every turn. Hayworth had several narrow misses, but was never able to make a roquet. Soo played patiently, preferring to retreat and let Hayworth shoot a long shot rather than to attempt a break with an aggressive play.

Soo advanced yellow to the peg with clean breaks of nine and three. Red gave her more troubles, leading to several abortive break attempts. But, starting from the fourth hoop, she finished the game with a well-controlled break and an easy peg-out.

By reaching the final, Soo and Hayworth earn automatic qualification to the 2007 NC Open Championship. Both players have also been offered spots in this year’s Open, to be played April 6–9, and both have entered.

Final results