CROQUET NEWS:  Rocky Mountain International Open Won by Rich Lamm

22-25 May 2008
Washington Park and Denver Country Club, Denver, Colorado, USA
by Rich Lamm in Croquet World Online

[Rich Lamm over Ben Rothman to win. Paul Billings over Mik Mehas for third.]

1. Rich Lamm (11-0), $1,000
2. Ben Rothman (8-3), $600
3. Paul Billings (5-5), $400
4. Mik Mehas (5-5), $250
5. Ron Hendry (5-5), $150

Day Four

Another day in paradise! Finals day in Denver saw hundreds of park goers enjoying the weather we love and try so very hard to keep secret.

Owing to an airline conflict, the battle for 3rd & 4th was staged on the pristine Denver Country Club lawn at 7:30AM. Paul Billings defeated Mik Mehas 26-12 before several dozen geese, a few more goslings, one dozen cottonwood trees and a few would-be Tiger Woods putting away in the morning dew.

Last evening's cocktail party at Rich & Tim's most likely contributed to the low attendance. We still can't explain how Paul Billings wound up in the koi pond nor Ron Hendry's line-dancing on the dining table to "Croquet King" while Linda Huxtable chanted "Billy Jack, Billy Jack" in the background. No, we can't explain these things, nor will we speak of them again.

We do, however, report that Rich Lamm defeated teenage phenom and croquet rock star Ben Rothman at the Washington Park green 26-2, 26-18. The match commenced at the more civilized hour of 9:30AM, wrapping up just after noon.

The first game was a blur, but went fairly quickly with Rich hitting in on 4th ball and never looking back. Actually, he looked back alot, but the Washington Park gnomes did their best to foil Ben's every attempt.

Game two was a bit more interesting, with Rich hitting Ben's duffer third ball and setting a rush to peg from the East boundary. Ben hit from A on fourth ball and marched to 4-back. Rich missed the lift but hit partner ball when Ben crashed at 1, retired at 4-back with a diagonal spread, which Ben missed from B. Rich flew around to 2-back, where he experienced a most unfavorable ("unfavourable" to our commonwealth friends) roll, running away to corner 4. Ben ran his forward ball to rover, where he missed clearing the hoop by an almost unmeasurable margin. Rich finished the peel with his 2-back ball and pegged both balls out, leaving a one-ball game with Rich at 4-back and Ben at 2. Rich ran 4-back after Ben ran 4 and missed into corner two with Ben set to run 6. Ben missed 6 and Rich hit from corner 2. Rich ran penultimate, rushed Ben back to B, took off to perfect position behind rover, missing rover badly. Ben missed the ball at rover. Rich attempted to hide behind rover. He failed, leaving Ben a half ball (a clever trap suggested first by the Washington Park gnomes). Ben shot at Rich softly, bouncing off rover and leaving Rich an easy roquet, hoop and peg.

Day Three

Day three saw perfect weather for a round robin playoff for places 5-8 and the semi-final BO3 playoffs.

In the 5-8 round robin, there was a three-way tie, with Ron Hendry winning on net-points. 5. Ron Hendry (2-1) 6. Ron Huxtable (2-1) 7. Linda Huxtable (2-1) 8. Ron Eccles (0-3)

The BO3 semi-finals both ended in two games (and 6.5 hours), but not without significant resistance from Paul and Mik. (1) Rich Lamm defeated (4) Paul Billings +10, +14 (2) Ben Rothman defeated (3) Mik Mehas +11, +16

Many thanks to Doug Grimsley, Brian Cumming, Johnny Osborne and Jeff Soo for guidance on the court damage rule. Aren't cell phones wonderful? Although we did not manage to contact Jeff by phone, his North Carolina Open guide to rule changes made it easy for Rich to adjudicate the matter.

Tomorrow's final pits Rich Lamm (old & tired) against teenage phenom and croquet rock star Ben Rothman (not so old and definitely not tired). Ben's luggage is getting progressively heavier as his heavy metal croquet tour swings North into Canada next week. He advises me that he is now accepting applications for the position of croquet groupie and trophy bag carrier. If you've worked at Hooters, you get the job.

We're playing down for 3rd & 4th as well, with Mik Mehas and Paul Billings going at it early at the Denver Country Club.

Day Two

We are pleased to report that although the skies remained confused, there were no tornadoes today. Nonetheless, the first round this morning involving the top four seeds ended 15-14 & 13-12. We're still working out our collective excuse. I think we should go with "the return of the 1997 elusive cayman hiding in the replica Monticello gardens next to the Washington Park green" story. The others are hoping for something a bit more plausible.

One of the more interesting games today matched Rich Lamm against teenage phenom and croquet rock star Ben Rothman. Lamm wins the toss and takes play.

1. Lamm supershot.
2. Rothman dribbles at supershot from A, waiving as it passes by and curving around the peg to a position wired from any shot Lamm might conjure.
3. Lamm hits supershot from A and runs to 3-back with what may well be the most tragic cut rush and failed reverse take-off in the history of the game.
4. Rothman hits and marches to 4-back.
5. Lamm lifts to B, shoots down the line (carefully aiming midway between Ben's balls spread two feet apart), hits the forward ball, runs to rover, wires Ben at the peg and retires to #4 corner with a rush to 3-back and a request for more corvasier.
6. Ben lifts to A and hits back ball squarely, proceeding to 2-back with two peels in hand, missing the short hoop shot.
7. Rich lifts to A and finishes, but not without getting Ben's hopes up on several occasions. It must be noted that given the difficult disposition of the lawn, Ben very nearly conquered it on turn 6.

Once again Ron Eccles treated everyone to a wonderful day of croquet in the park. The country club matches were equally pleasant to all.

1. Rich Lamm (7-0), +128 net
2. Ben Rothman (6-1), +91 net
3. Mik Mehas (5-2), +61 net
4. Paul Billings (4-3), +38 net
5. Ron Hendry (3-4), –42 net
6. Ron Huxtable (1-6), –83 net
7. Linda Huxtable (1-6), –91 net
8. Ron Eccles (1-6), –103 net

Day One

The inaugural Rocky Mountain International Open commenced under confusing skies at Washington Park and the Denver Country Club today. A large tornado took its toll North of Denver while players battled through wind, rain, sun, beer, shrimp and corvasier.

Arriving fresh from his North American Open victory at Sonoma Cutrer last week, favorite Ben Rothman squeeked out a 16-14 win over Ron Huxtable in his first game of the day. With the game on his mallet, Ron fell prey to a difficult Washington Park lawn at penultimate. Winter was pretty rough this year and the lawn has not yet come into form, although it's improving daily with a cut and roll. The Denver Country Club (DCC), on the other hand, is playing beautifully! Ben transferred to the DCC after game one and ran two triples on his way to a 4-0 day one record. Leading the pack on net points, however, is Mik Mehas, also at 4-0. Paul Billings also went undefeated (4-0) along with Rich Lamm (3-0).

Ron Eccles (tournament director) has put together a wonderful event this year with an opening party at tournament sponsor Weber's Restaurant in Cherry Creek North followed by cigars at tournament sponsor Havana's Fine Cigars.

Cocktails at Washington Park followed today's play. There will be a tournament dinner Friday, cocktail party Saturday and brunch court side Sunday for the finals.

The tournament boasts $2,400 prize money this year to be shared by the top five players.

Mik Mehas (4-0), +80 net

1. Ben Rothman (4-0), +79 net (2 TPs)
2. Paul Billings (4-0), +66 net
3. Rich Lamm (3-0), +69 net
4. Ron Eccles (0-3), –69 net
5. Ron Hendry (0-4), –66 net
6. Ron Huxtable (0-4), –71 net
7. Linda Huxtable (0-4), –88 net

Announcement

Championship association singles. Washington Park lawn bowling greens, Denver, Colorado. US open format leading to single elimination playoff with medal round, plate event and BO3 finals. Minimum prize money $2,400 $250.00 entry fee limited to 12 players.