News / Articles

The thirty-ninth North Carolina State Singles Championship was played over Labor Day weekend on four courts at the Albemarle Croquet Club. Championship Flight had nine players, including three-time defending champion Adam Lassiter and four other past winners of this tournament. First Flight had seven players. Each flight played a complete block, the top four qualifying to the main playoffs and the rest continuing in Plate playoffs.

On Day 1 the players were challenged by high heat and humidity, and were encouraged to take heat recovery and hydration time-outs as needed. Late afternoon thunderstorms brought relief, but also a long adjournment for heavy rain and lightning. Most of the day's scheduled games finished, with three pegged-down games to resume in the morning.

Day 2 was only slightly less oppressive, but fortunately had a lighter schedule, to allow plenty of time to get to the tournament dinner. Cooler weather finally arrived on Day 3, which started with a final round of block play. In First Flight, Randy Lassiter and Danna Huneycutt finished first and second, earning the two Winners' Bracket slots. Rich Greulich and Becky Essick emerged from a three-way tie for third to qualify to the Losers' Bracket. Randy beat Danna to earn the holder position in the final. Rich beat Becky, then Danna beat Rich to get to the final, where she would have to beat Randy twice. On Monday Randy won straight away to win the flight undefeated.

All four Championship qualifiers started in the Winners' Bracket. Jeff Soo beat Bob Cherry and Danny Huneycutt to earn the holder position. Adam beat Bob and Danny to earn a spot in the final for the fourth year in a row. Adam had beaten Jeff in the block, but Jeff kept the final to a single game, winning 23-4.