Since this is the column for gratitudes and acknowledgements, let’s start with thanks to Chris Bunz, our resident artist, for the jazzy masthead artwork (and, btw, have you seen the very handsome new sign above the Club doorway? That too is Chris’ handiwork). I would also like to thank those of you who sent me, or whispered in my ear, tips for notable accomplishments during the last month. Please keep those coming as the more eyes and ears reporting, the more kudos are assured to appear here.
Super Steroidal Seventy-Plus Games
March 14 in Will’s Thursday game, Heather Cutting and Kathy Harper had a 71.03% game.
March 18 at John Schwartz’s Monday game, Dave Wheeler and Marolyn Imaoka-Yancey achieved a 72.57% game.
March 28 Gary and Gladys Fong had a whopping 73.1% game.
March was a busy month for tournaments. Let’s start with the Nationals in St. Louis, March 14-24. I scanned the results from the nearly 4000 participants who scored points, and whereas I saw a lot of familiar names, unless my eyes deceived me , only one of our kind showed up in red. That was Miss Polly “the Indomitable” Siegel with a team from hither and yon. They tied for first place in an AX Side Swiss of 32 tables. And surprise to say, that does it for the Nationals.
The San Diego Regional took place March 25-31. The only home team members who placed first in an event there are Barb Shukov with partner Kip Ka- do, teaming up with some friends from Southern Cal. Their team placed first in the Kickoff KO, Bracket 3. It’s always a strong showing to place First in a Regional event.
Moving onto an array of Sectionals, both local and in other parts of California. The first of these was the Palm Springs Sectional from March 8-10. The only Unit 503 member that popped up in red is again Barb Shukov who teamed up with Tony Glynne (yes, he’s a pro but let’s not hold that against anyone). They had a 62.85% game to place first in a Saturday Open Pairs event. There was also a Sectional that same weekend, March 9-10, closer to home in Santa Cruz. Believe it or not, nary a Unit 503er’s name showed up in red. What gives?
We had more success in the recent Sectional put on by the San Jose Club, the Santa Clara Sectional sited in Saratoga, April 5-7. Euo Menezes from our Unit with his Hawaiian partner teamed up with two San Jose players (Reggie Sharma and Paul Lee) to place first in a Stratified Swiss game of 20 tables. Congrats, Euo! Donna Raynor and Deborah Lundahl, along with Ginny Strock and Deborah Machlin, came in First in C in an 11-table Stratified Swiss game. Good job, ladies! And lastly, Ellie Bernhardt and Miriam Jacobs came first in the Under 300 Pairs on Saturday. Yahoo!
Congratulations to all of you for outstanding performances. Let’s all aspire to such sterling heights between now and the next Kudos Korner! And, remember to keep the news flashes flowing my way. mmusy@apr.com.