2008 NC Open info & entry form
Championship Qualifying Division: March 27–30 Championship Flight: April 10–13 Pinehurst, NC, USA
Overview
The NC Open is an Association Croquet (i.e., “International Rules”) singles tournament, sanctioned by the USCA. It will be held on four lawns at the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club and one lawn at the Longleaf Country Club. The plan is to use the new Dawson balls if they arrive in time; otherwise it will be Wilhoites.
Entry is open to all players who are current members in good standing of a WCF-affiliated croquet association (such as the USCA, Croq-Can, or the British CA).
The entry fee is US$175 per player. This includes all court fees, USCA sanction fee, and a Tournament Dinner. (Lunches are not included in the entry fee.) Non-playing guests may attend the Tournament Dinner for US$40.
This is a popular tournament. The earlier you enter, the better your chance of getting in. The current entry list will be updated regularly.
Typical high temperatures are about 60–70 °F (16 to 21 °C). Of course, this cannot be guaranteed. Be prepared for cool weather and, just in case, wind and rain.
Details: Championship Qualifying Division
Available for players who would not qualify for this year’s Championship Flight. Entry is first-come, first-served, for up to 24 players. The top two finishers will earn automatic berths to the 2009 NC Open Championship Flight (or may continue to play in Championship Qualifying events, as they prefer).
Flight assignments will be made by the tournament committee (requests to “play up” will be considered). Usually there is one large flight for all players, and that is the preferred format. However, if the entry comprises a very wide handicap range there will be multiple flights.
Championship Qualifying games will be 26-point advanced play with time limits. Higher-handicap flights, if any, will probably be some form of handicap (bisque) play.
Details: Championship Flight
Room for 28 players. Through February 8th, entries (other than automatic qualifications) will be allocated by ranking. After February 8th any open spots will be allocated by entry date, to players who meet the minimum requirements (world ranking grade of 1600 or higher, or USCA handicap of 3 or lower). The waiting list will work the same way: through February 8th the waiting list will be ordered by ranking; after that the existing order will be fixed and new entries will be added to the bottom by date.
About entry ranking order:
The primary determinant will be World Ranking grade, using the most recent available data. Players without a current World Ranking will be assigned a provisional grade according to the judgment of the tournament committee.
Automatic qualifications (must be claimed by February 10th):
| Bill Bopp | 2007 NC Open Plate runner-up (tie) |
| Brian Cumming | 2007 NC Open semi-finalist |
| Doug Grimsley | 2007 Selection 8s winner (tie) |
| Tommy Harrington | 2007 Championship Qualifying winner |
| Danny Huneycutt | 2007 NC Open winner |
| Stewart Jackson | 2007 National doubles winner, Selection 8s winner (tie), & NC Open semi-finalist |
| Rich Lamm | 2007 USCA national singles winner |
| Ron Lloyd | 2007 NC Open Plate winner |
| Archie Peck | 2007 National doubles winner |
| Andy Short | 2007 NC Open Plate runner-up (tie) |
| Eileen Soo | 2007 NC Open Plate runner-up (tie) |
| Jeff Soo | 2007 NC Open finalist |
| Jerry Stark | 2007 Selection 8s winner (tie) |
| Bob Whitmore | 2007 Championship Qualifying runner-up |
Format:
Advanced International Rules singles with no time limits. The Main Event will be a best-of-three-games knockout ladder. Up to half the players will be seeded; the rest will be distributed by random draw. The Plate (consolation event) will be in the Flexible Swiss or Egyptian format. The format is subject to change without notice.
Entry forms
Download entry form—PDF file, 26kB
Note
The format and conditions for any flight are subject to change without notice.
Past Champions
| 1994 | Mack Penwell |
| 1995 | Paul Scott |
| 1996 | Bill Berne |
| 1997 | Mack Penwell |
| 1998 | Mack Penwell |
| 1999 | Leo McBride |
| 2000 | Jeff Soo |
| 2001 | Jeff Soo |
| 2002 | Wynand Louw |
| 2003 | Kenster Rosenberry |
| 2004 | Wynand Louw |
| 2005 | Bob Cherry |
| 2006 | Paul Scott |
| 2007 | Danny Huneycutt |
Last modified on 17 January 2008
