Seniors Masters Championship

Singles Titles for Sheely, Sullivan at Seniors Masters

Always one of the largest and most enjoyable events on the USCA calendar, this year’s Seniors Masters lived up to all expectations. Held over the span of five days, 10 courts were utilized to host the 80 enthusiastic competitors. The weather was amiable throughout and a standard blockto-ladder format was in use. Matches were timed at 75 minutes, the courts were in fine shape and play ran smoothly throughout. While singles action, except for the Second Flight, divided participants into Senior (60- 69) and Masters (70 and above) divisions, the three flights of doubles combined players of all ages. In the Second Flight, John Grabow and David Kepner took a victory lap after a well-played victory over Lovejoy Duryea and Sally McGrath, both teams having finished with 4-1 records after Block play. First Flight ended with a minor upset when local favorites Larry McDermott and Dick Scherf overcame the previously undefeated duo of Steven Grassbaugh and John Schoo. Lastly, within the Championship Flight, no one chose to make wagers as the pre-tournament top two seeds faced off in the Finals. When a late charge from Randy Cardo and Bob Chilton failed, Matt Griffith and Rick Sheely went home with top honors. In the combined Second Flight Singles, Christine Smith found her groove and, after having been seeded seventh after Block play, won her three playoff matches by a total of four points. She eventually outdueled Terry Cassidy in the 14-13 Final. Yen Sullivan, improving with lightening speed, captured Randy Cardo

the First Flight Seniors over the struggling but resilient Jeff Morrison. Meanwhile, within the First Flight Masters division, Ted Thelin looked much the best with a deliberate 18-5 victory over Bill Sadowski. The entertaining Championship Seniors Singles Final found bubbly Jodie Rugart, having already defeated Randy Cardo and Matt Griffith, facing off against the steady Rick Sheely. In his methodical fashion, Sheely backed up his 2017 victory by capturing this year’s title, a nice bookend to match his Doubles success. Dick Sullivan, in the Masters portion of the Flight, also found an enthusiastic opponent, Ken Scoggins, in the Finals.

And, again, slow and deliberate tactics prevailed, Sullivan joining his wife as a 2019 Singles winner. Larry McDermott was honored as the “Grand-Master” for displaying the best performance by a player above the age of 80. The Seniors Masters, as always, brought with it a great sense of camaraderie throughout. Play was competitive, but the social affairs may have been the most enjoyable portion of the tournament. Thanks go out to the USCA staff for the hard work and to Sandy James for the wonderful food and festivities. I am certain everyone is already looking for next year’s event!

Rick Sheely: Seniors Championship Singles Winner

Dick Sullivan: Masters Championship Singles winner

Yen Sullivan: First Flight Seniors Singles Winner

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT SENIORS SINGLES 01. Rick Sheely 02. Jodie Rugart 03. Ron Huxtable 03. Matt Griffith 05. Randy Cardo 05. Bob Hafner 05. Kevin Hansley 05. Lynda Sudderberg 09. Colin Irwin 09. Linda Huxtable 09. Missy Ramey 12. Kevin McQuigg

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT MASTERS SINGLES 01. Dick Sullivan 02. Ken Scoggins 03. Scott Spradling 03. Bob Chilton 05. David Ekstrom 05. Dick Scherf 05. David McCoy 05. Bill Trower 09. Mike Gibbons 10. Gene Raymond 10. Mary Rodeberg 10. Matt Baird 13. Michael Todorovich 13. John Curington 15. Peter Just 15. Steve Warner

FIRST FLIGHT SENIORS SINGLES 01. Yen Sullivan 02. Jeff Morrison 03. Steve Grassbaugh 03. David Spivey 05. Pat Spratt 05. Mark Ski 07. Ron Millican 08. Nancy Hart 09. Sally McGrath

FIRST FLIGHT MASTERS SINGLES 01. Ted Thelin 02. Bill Sadowski 03. Ron Eccles 03. John Grabow 05. John Schoo 05. Merle Berkshire 05. Michael Kukla 05. Rita McNamera 09. Martie Ekstrom 09. Clint Fowlkes 09. David Kepner 12. Richard Carlson 12. Betty Whitlow 12. Thomas Tribby 12. Suzanne Spradling 12. Lovejoy Duryea

SECOND (COMBINED) FLIGHT SINGLES 01. Christine Smith 02. Terry Cassidy 03. Arlene Stevens 03. Bobbie Duryea 05. Anne Kukla 05. Sam Hansley 05. Charles Reynolds 05. Randy Reid 09. Nanci Hunt 09. Sheila McCauley 11. John McGrath 11. Freer Pollard

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. Matt Griffith/Rick Sheely 02. Randy Cardo/Bob Chilton 03. David Ekstrom/Dick Sullivan 03. Bob Hafner/Scott Spradling 05. Ron Huxtable/Linda Huxtable 05. David Spivey/Bill Trower 07. Stewart Jackson/Peter Just 07. Jodie Rugart/Lynda Sudderberg 09. Missy Ramey/Conrad Rugart 09. Mike Gibbons/David McCoy 11. Colin Irwin/Gene Raymond 11. Matt Baird/Kevin McQuigg

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. Larry McDermott/Dick Scherf 02. Steve Grassbaugh/John School 03. Mark Ski/Pat Spratt 03. John Curington/Randy Reid 05. Merle Berkshire/Ted Thelin 05. Nancy Hart/Yen Sullivan 07. Josie Jackson/Jennifer Williams 07. Kevin Hansley/Sam Hansley 07. Beatty Cramer/Jeanette Bair Tribby 07. Ron Eccles/Ron Millican 11. Richard Carlson/Kevin Moran 11. Clint Fowlkes/Jeff Morrison

SECOND FLIGHT DOUBLES 01. John Grabow/David Kepner 02. Lovejoy Duryea/Sally McGrath 03. Martie Ekstrom/Rita McNamera 03. Missy Chilton/Anne Licursi 05. Michael Kukla/Anne Kukla 05. Charles Reynolds/Christine Smith 07. Bill Sadowski/Arlene Stevens 08. Carla Rueck/Suzanne Spradling 08. Sheila McCauley/Freer Pollard 10. Tina Hinkley/Hildegard Jones 10. Bobbie Duryea/John McGrath 12. Peggy Matthews/Jeanette Tribby 12. Bob Williams/Nanci Hunt

BEST PREFORMANCE BY A GRAND-MASTER (80+): Larry McDermott

Second Flight Singes Champion Christine Smith

Rick Sheely and Matt Griffith: Championship Seniors Doubles Winners

Missy Chilton