Cherry and Lloyd top Regionals

Posted 23 May 2007 to , by Jeff Soo

Ron Lloyd and Bob Cherry won Championship Doubles at the 2007 USCA Southeast Regional Championships, earning Lloyd his second straight regional doubles title. The final game vs. Harold Allison and the up-and-coming Bill Escher was fun for the spectators gathered on the Pinehurst pavilion, featuring spectacular shots and novel situations. Allison created a stir by running 1-back and 2-back on one shot, from the boundary no less. Cherry played an attack and cleared his ball by rolling through his wicket — on a full-roll shot from 20 yards out. Lloyd, dead on both opponent balls, played into a corner and then found himself boxed in and forced to pass. Escher, in last turns, made a full-court roquet on a corner ball for a chance to tie the game. Unfortunately for Allison and Escher, the play came up short. The final score: 14-13.

Lloyd and Cherry then moved into the singles final. Again this proved to be a back-and-forth game with lots of interesting tactics. Ultimately Cherry was able to peg out the hot ball and so go directly to playing his partner ball. He played his three-ball break until time was called, then cornered, leaving Lloyd one long shot. Lloyd missed and Cherry won his second straight regional singles title. His name will again be engraved on the Wayne Synan Trophy, housed at the National Croquet Center.

The tournament was played May 16 – 20 at the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club and the Longleaf Country Club in Pinehurst, NC.

Last modified on 12 June 2007