Audubon Invitational - 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Mijai Pagano took home the 2nd Place trophy in the Championship Flight at the 19th Annual Audubon 2013 Invitational that was held February 28 to March 3, at The Audubon Country Club, in Naples, FL. Representing the Grand Haven Croquet Club were Mijai & Jim Pagano and Joe & Anne Marie Zilligen.
The setting at the Audubon Country Club is quite spectacular. All flights were played on perfectly manicured lawns with not a spec of dirt...if you hit the ball straight, it went straight! The weather was a different story as it was unseasonably cold, bone chilling cold and cloudy but no rain. Only one crazy Canadian was playing in his shorts, the rest were bundled up with hats, heavy sweaters and jackets trying to keep warm. Many looked like white Easter Bunnies.
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You had your choice between cold... and very cold.. |
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Tournament Summary: The Tournament was a singles event held over 4 days. Block play consisted of three flights (Championship, First, and Second Flights) with eight players in each flight leading to a double elimination ladder for all participants. Just prior to the start of the tournament, the format was changes to a block of eight, nine, and seven players to balance handicaps. All games were played on half size courts. Mijai, Jim, and Joe played in the Championship Flight. Jim Pagano was first out of the block with four of six wins. Mijai emerged from 5th place working her way in the undefeated ladder to the finals. Joe finished the block in 8th place. |
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On Saturday Jim fell prey to Joe who by now had the courts down pat. Saturday could also be call Mijaiday, in the second of three straight victories, Mijai was only one wicket shot from a 26 to 2 game, but unfortunately she stuffed it. She was still 3 and 0 going into the Sunday finals which is better than sitting on the sidelines watching... |
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Joe worked his way into the semis with a great shot at the last final spot, but all week it was one or two points in the last five minutes that was his Achilles Heel. However, playing on Sunday for a berth in the finals is better than sitting on the sidelines watching... The final game, which could have gone either way, ended up with local Jim Dushek defeating Mijai...but taking home a 2nd Place Trophy is certainly better than sitting on the sidelines and taking home nothing! |
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Social activities included an opening party at the clubhouse. The next evening a wonderful cocktail party was held on the lanai at one of the club members home. Saturday had everyone at the Club for another cocktail party and dinner dance. To wrap up the tournament, a Sunday Brunch as held at the Club and the awarding of the trophies. |
Mijai was pleased to take home the 2nd Place Trophy in the Championship Flight.
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