2015 Kansas City Invitational Results

KANSAS CITY, MO -- MCA member Matt Griffith won the 42nd Annual Kansas City Invitational on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri. The event is six-ball (cutthroat) and is likely the longest active running croquet tournament in the US. In 2013, the Palm Beach Invitational celebrated its 45th year, but there is no report of the event running again since that year.

PHOTO GALLERY

The MCA had 11 members participate in the 30-player event with Griffith, Ellie Kemp, Dylan Goodwin, Greg Adams, Jodi Adams, Billy Bob Breeden, Debbie Breeden, Ron Millican, Deborah Millican, Greg Clouse and Jason Johnson all on hand.

The event was held at Fast Eddie Mondt's private residence on two courts. The southern court featured a steep downhill at the turn wickets that provided a challenge all day for players -- funneling most balls that approached directly out of bounds behind the turn stake. Players got two games and the top 12 by place points advanced to two six-player semifinals. From there the top three advanced from each game to the final.

The MCA supports all competitive croquet events in the midwest and all of the players that participated enjoyed the event. 

FINALS LINE-UP
Matt Griffith (W)
Billy Bob Breeden
Greg Clouse
Art Hatchey
Deborah Millican
Ron Millican

2015 KC Open: Griffith Rolls On

PARKVILLE, MO -- This past Saturday, Matt Griffith plowed through the field for his fifth straight MCA tournament title and capped the day with a 32-11 win against Deborah Millican in the Kansas City Open Pro Division final. The event had 21 players overall with 11 in the Silver and Bronze Divisions.

PHOTO GALLERY | OFFICIAL SCORESHEET

The Pro/Gold Division utilized two blocks and Griffith ran through the A Block with a 4-0 record. Deborah Millican gave him the toughest challenge in the morning action, but she eventually fell 18-16. That was Griffith's first game of the day and he then found his groove and notched three pegouts in his final five games.

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2015 Missouri Open - Pro Schedule

BELTON, MO - Entries for the 2015 Missouri Open Pro and Gold Division topped out at an odd number of 15 players. That scenario forced a split between the Pro and Gold Division. With 10 pro spots available, eight spots were given to the eight players that made the Pro Playoff at the Lee's Summit T-Bone Tournament. Matt Smith and Paul Miller were awarded the final two spots based on 9W Ranking. The Pro Division will play a three-round morning draw and eliminate two players to get down to an eight player afternoon bracket. Full schedule:

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2015 MCA AGM: Focus on KC Development

The 2015 Midwest Croquet Association Annual General Meeting was hosted at the home of Ron and Deborah Millican in Lee's Summit, MO on February 7, 2015. The meeting began at 11:00 a.m. with a look at financials and membership. The MCA set records in both revenue ($1815) and members in 2014. The MCA had 32 members in 2014, which was up from the record of 22 in 2013 (2012 had nine members).

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2015 MCA AGM Set for Feb 7

LEE'S SUMMIT, MO -- The 2015 Midwest Croquet Association AGM will be held Saturday, February 7, 2015 in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Deborah and Ron Millican are hosting the event which will start at 11:00 a.m. The meeting is open to all members of the MCA. Lunch will be served during the meeting. Please RSVP to kccroquetclub@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Active Postseason for MCA Players

After a solid second year of MCA Nine Wicket Series play, MCA players and members made a lot of noise in USCA and club events in the postseason. Here's an update:

Matt Griffith and Paul Miller had a repeat of the Kansas City Open final on a much bigger stage as they fought through a tough field at the USCA Nine Wicket National Championship in Kansas City to battle in the title game. This time Paul Miller prevailed 24-15 to claim his first national championship. Miller also made a run at the doubles title as well with his partner Doug Moore from New York, but they came up short against defending doubles champions George Cochran and John Warlick in the final.

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MCA Crowns 2014 Champions

BELTON, MO -- The second annual MCA Championship was held yesterday in Belton, Missouri with Matt Griffith taking the MCA Pro Championship with a 26-19 win over Jason Johnson. It was Griffith's second straight tourney win and he is now riding an eight-game winning streak and is undefeated in MCA play.

The overall Pro Race standings remained unchanged as Dylan Goodwin finished with 442 points on a 17-5 record to claim the Goodwin World Media MCA Pro Points race and the top prize of $100. Greg Adams took second with 320 points and a 10-8 record to claim second place and a $50 payout. Ron Millican held third place with 278 points on a 5-11 record and a $30 payout.

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2014 Pro Championship Playoff is Set

LEAWOOD, KS -- Eight players have qualified and accepted bids to play in the MCA Pro Championship on September 13, 2014, in Belton, Missouri. The matchups follow:

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MCA Pro Race Update

LEAWOOD, KS -- Although he failed to make the final at the KC Open earlier this month, Dylan Goodwin earned enough points to clinch the overall pro points race, which is sponsored his Goodwin World Media company. Only 96 points will be available at the MCA Championship and with 428 points, Goodwin now holds a 130 point lead over Greg Adams (298) in second place.

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Kansas Scorcher

LEAWOOD, KS -- The MCA returned to Leawood, Kansas on Saturday in a big way as the the 2014 Kansas Challenge set a new record for player entries with 17. That eclipsed 12 entries for the same event in 2013 and shows the steady growth that the MCA is enjoying in the second season of the Nine Wicket Series.

GALLERY 1 | GALLERY 2 | GALLERY 3 | OFFICIAL SCORESHEET

On the courts though, the big story was the battle against the heat as the temperature reached 92 degrees in the afternoon. The Kansas Challenge had play across three divisions with Dylan Goodwin taking the Pro Division, Ron Millican winning the Gold Division and newcomer Nate Benz going 4-0 to win the Silver Division.

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