Aces, Places, and Faces

Volume LXVIII Number 6

THE LONGEST DAY June 20
We’re supporting the Alzheimer’s Association by participating in the fourth annual Longest Day on Monday, June 20. We’ll have bridge games almost all day long, from 9 a.m. to after 9 p.m. Games are held at 9 a.m., noon, 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The 4:00 game is a fast pairs game, so it should be done in time for the 6:30 game.
Some players like to make it a marathon and play every game. See how many times you can play. You can make additional contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association through their website. Just Google go to the website  www.alz.org/longestday. Click on donate, and then donate to the team Unit 522. The goal for ACBL players is $500,000 this year. So far bridge players have donated $106,361. Three bridge clubs already have raised over $15,000 each. Help the Alzheimer’s Association by playing in the Longest Day.

JANE MCCOY
Jane McCoy passed away on March 16 at age 99. She was a veteran of World War II, who went on the honor flight to Washington DC in 2014. She became a Life Master in 1972. She served on our unit board and was unit president. She earned our Distinguished Service Award in 1986. When the NABC tournament was held in Fresno in 1980, she got her Tri-Delt sorority to caddy for the tournament. She even took a few turns caddying. She and her late husband Jess were a great asset to the Fresno Unit. She helped out whenever anything was needed while Jess made sure everyone had a good time, especially when he tended bar at our parties. Jane was our “tour Director” on all our Regional tours. She was always there when needed to help our novice games. She loved bridge and golf. We miss her.

CLUB NEWS
NAP Starts in June
We had lots of Sectional Tournament at Clubs (STAC) overall winners. The overall winners placed against anywhere from 40 to 600 tables throughout the West. Some of our top winners were Ray April and Lowell Gist, who were third overall and won 11.81 points on Friday afternoon, Pat Creede and Renee Laquerriere, who won 5.36 on Thursday afternoon, with second overall (first overall in Flight B), Jim McKoane and George Dalition, who were second in Flight B on Thursday morning and won 8.10 points, and Deb Peterson and Barbara Wiedel, who won the 750 game on Thursday and took 6.20 points. Former Fresnan Norman Woo was ninth on Monday afternoon, playing in southern California. Overall awards are listed in the Winners Circle, with the overall place after their names. A number with a B or C indicated Flight B or C overall. Congratulations to all our STAC winners!
North American Pairs qualifying is held in June, July, and August. The qualifying games earn extra red master points. Check your calendar and play in them to qualify for our unit finals in November. Those who qualify in the unit final can play in the District 21 finals in January or February for a chance to play in the national finals in Kansas City in March. There is an open flight, Flight B for under 2,500 master points, and Flight C for Non Life Masters under 500 master points. Several of our unit members have qualified to play in the national finals in the past.
Gary Nelson was the master point leader in Madera in May, followed closely by Carol Kaufman, Barbara Diebert, and Larry and Gay Slates. Gary leads for 2016, followed by Carol Kaufman and Mary Gullo.
Mark Stern is the top player in Fresno in April, followed by Ray April and Steve Sharp. Steve Sharp leads for 2016, followed by Mark Stern, Ray April, and Maggie Mahaffey. Kathryn Miller was the top 99er for April, followed by Don and Doris Myer. Don and Doris have a big lead for 2016.

LESSONS
New lesson series will start on July 9 on Saturday at 9 am. Mary Lou Pease will present EasyBridge book 2. Laura Da Costa will start the ACBL series on Defense, with some review of bidding. We’re planning a game on Saturday, June 18, for those taking lessons. Check with Laura or Mary Lou for details.
     
WINNERS
PEGGY OCHS MEMORIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
1A           John Schnell - Della Schnell
2A           Richard Meffley - Victor Greener
3A           Margaret Mahaffey - Monique Irion
1B           Laura Da Costa - Ray April
2B           Barbara Thacker - Steve Sharp
3B1C       Al Crane - Laura Neville
2C           Don Austin - Marion Austin
 
STAC
John Schnell – Skip Miller (8)
Irene Whelchel – Monique Irion (82)
Gerry Jones - Ray April(54)
Al Crane - William Glass(84
Susan Vildosola - Peter Weber(45)(21B)
Steve Sharp - Laura Neville
Richard Meffley - Gary Nelson(14)
Rose Boot - Robert Durbrow
Jim Mckoane - George Dalition(7)(2B)
Ray April - Lowell Gist
Rose Boot – Bob Durbrow(7)
3Victor Greener - Skip Miller
Jay Roll - Bob Cross(3AUX)
William Glass, Clovis CA; Debbie Kemp(4AUX)
Skip Miller – Byron Steinert(112)
Mark Stern - Richard Meffley(5AUX)
Anthony Toto – Byron Steinert(92B)
Judy Zimmerer - Ray April[B]
William Glass - Debbie Kemp[B]
Sally Anne Eatherly - Carol Miller[B](55B)(16C)
David Haberstich - Mark Stern[B]
John Lee - Sandy Lee[C]
George Dalition - Sheila Smith [C]
Jay Shapiro - George Dalition[C]
John McGregor - Patrick Carroll[C]
Jackie Finn - George Efthemon[C]
 
750 STAC
Pearl McGinnis - Barbara Brock(8B)
Deb Petersen - Barbara Wiedel(1)
Richard & Suzanne Graham(4)
Patricia Creede - Renee Laquerriere(2)(1B)
Pat Huston - Nancy Holley(13)
Jerry F. Noga - John Hempel[B]
Sue Comporato - Marilyn J. Kendall[C](4C)
Cathleen Burden - Denny Tweed[C](7)
Don Myers - Doris Myers[C](3C)
Ed & Therese Grootendorst(7B)
Madeline Lynes – Sue Comporato(6C)

UNIT CHAMPIONSHIP
1A           Richard Meffley - Victor Greener
2A1B      Kay Chrisman - Mary Lou Pease
3A2B      Al Crane - Laura Neville
3B           Barbara Thacker - Ray April
1C           Sandy Lee - John Lee
2C           Deb Petersen - Cynthia Tingey

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1A           Ray April - Judy Zimmerer
2/3A        Steve Sharp - Barbara Thacker
2/3A        Jay Shapiro - Laura Neville
1B           Gay Berry - Judy Nicholson
2B           Patricia Creede - Ruth Christensen
 
1A           Richard Meffley - J. Jay Roll
2A1B      Mark Stern - Victor Greener
3A2B      Ray April - Howard Arquette
3/4B1/2C Sandy Lee - John Lee
3/4B1/2C Jason Mcalexander - James Sweet

99er SPECIAL
Sue Comporato - Pamela Pigg
Ann Keag - Walt Kelso[B]
 

 

GRADUATION PARTY
Sunday June 26
            Our annual party to honor our newest Life Masters and others who have advanced in rank is on Sunday June 26. A pot luck lunch at noon is followed by our traditional Pro-Am pairs at 1 pm. Our newest Life Masters, John McGregor, Mary Lou Pease, and Judy Nibler are our honored guests for the day. We may even have more new Life Masters, as there are still chances to go over at the Sacramento and Las Vegas regionals.
            All players can play in the Pro-Am pairs. We divide the players in two groups by master points – the “pros” and the “amateurs.” Each partnership is one player picked from each group. Be sure to be nice to your partner, and don’t give unwanted advice. Come and enjoy a new partner, and a great pot luck lunch.

PLACES AND FACES
We had lots of winners at the recent Visalia Sectional.  Jay Roll and Belva Quattrin won one open pairs and finished fifth and seventh in other open pairs. Mary Lou Pease was fourth in flight B with Jane Bragg, fifth in flight B with Judy Jessick, and tied for fourth in the Swiss teams with Angie Heisdorf, Judy Nibler, and  Rhonda Hampton.    They tied Al Crane, Alex Sherriffs, Keith Williams and Susan Spears.  Al Crane and Alex Sherriffs were also fourth in the open pairs. Maggie Mahaffey and Bob Durbrow were fifth in the open pairs. Ray April and Howard Arquette were third in the open pairs. Mun Takeda and Robert Rouch Jr. were third in one open pairs and fourth in another. Naguib Abdallah and Victor Greener won the open pairs and were seventh in another open pairs.  Dick Powell and Avis Morse were sixth in flight B. Bob Durbrow and Bob Cross were second.  Irene Whelchel and Jude Zimmerer won flight B.  Pat Huston and Barbara Fulmer won flight C. Marge Field and Joan Fritz were second, with Judy Nibler and Rhonda Hampton fourth in C.
Jay Roll, Richard Meffley, Bob Giragosian, and Wafik Abdou won the Swiss teams;  with Mark Stern, Naguib Abdallah, Victor Greener, and Dave Haberstich second; Lorna Cheng, Robert Rouch Jr., Vincent Cheng, and Mun Takeda third; and Bob Durbrow, Belva Quattrin, Bill Glass, and Bob Cross sixth. Jay Roll was the top master point winner with 21.68.

ALERTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
                Sometimes we’re not sure what requires an alert and what doesn’t. A good guide is the convention card. Anything in blue requires an announcement. Anything in red requires an alert. Conventions that come under “other” generally require an alert. If you open 1 No Trump, you must announce the point range. If you overcall 1 no trump, you don’t announce the point range. If you open 2 No Trump, you don’t announce anything, unless it comes under “other,” such as meaning 10 points and both minors. Lots of players play weak jump shifts. They require an alert if it’s not in competition, but not when in competition. For example, if your partner opens 1 club and you bid 2 spades (weak) that requires an alert. If your partner opens 1 club, the next player bids 1 heart, and you bid 2 spades (weak), that does not require an alert. Transfers of diamonds to hearts or hearts to spades require the announcement “transfer.” Any other transfer, such as spades to clubs or NT to diamonds requires an alert.
BRIDGE PADS
So far it looks like the open side prefers to hide the traveling score feature on the bridge pad, while the 750 players prefer to see the scores. We’ll have a final result of the poll at the end of the month.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
     The Fresno Bridge Center now keeps  emergency information for the members.  There may be a time that the bridge club needs to call your emergency contact person.  If you want to share emergency information, the director can provide a card to complete. 










FRIDAY EVENING INDIVIDUAL
1A           Richard Meffley
2A1B      Paul Messner
3A2B      Joycelyn Kauder
3B1C       Carol Kaufman
2/4C        James Sweet
2/4C        Gloria Durbrow
2/4C        Mary Lou Pease
 
 750 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
1ABC      Don Myers - Doris Myers
2AB        Karin Blanchard - Kathryn Miller
3AB        Kathleen Coit - William Coit
2C           Sandra Beebe - Judy Pardun
3C           Rita Gladding - Jonel Mueller
 
OAKHURST WINNERS
Burke Zane - T Srinivasan
Jim Luther - Ken Doig(4)
Cathy Fues - Blake Fuessenich
Nancy Hays - Annette Calhoun
Jimmy Moore - Bill Carroll
Claire Molnar - Ken Doig(2)
Jim Luther - Annette Calhoun
Annette Calhoun - Judy Bingham
Karen McCartin - Judy Bingham
Claire Molnar - Karen McCartin
Joseph Fox - Corey Cole
Karen McCartin - Paul Mertens
 
SPECIAL
Monique Irion - Steve Sharp
Belva Quattrin - Robert Durbrow
Skip Miller - John Schnell
Sydney Bluestone - Kent Billeter
Mark Stern - Belva Quattrin
Naguib Abdallah - Victor Greener
William Glass - Debbie Kemp
Mark Stern - Sally Anne Eatherly
Della Schnell - John Schnell
Robert Durbrow - Bob Cross
William Glass - Monique Irion
Mark Stern - David Haberstich
Mary Gullo – Gary Nelson
Barbara Diebert – Carol Kaufman[B]
Virginia Hailey - Paula Baraldi[B]
Anthony Toto - Andrea Wheeless[B]
Judy Dodd - Jim Mckoane[B]
Gwen Davey - Paul Messner[B]
Mary Lou Pease - James Sweet[B]
Judy Zimmerer - Rhonda Hampton[B]
Judy Zimmerer - Irene Whelchel[B]
Barbara Wiedel - Deb Petersen[B]
Stephen Blumberg - Robert Cherry[C]
Gay Berry - Jackie Finn[C]
Patrick Carroll - John McGregor[C]
 
750  SPECIAL
John Oakshott - Peggy Oakshott
Anna Harguindeguy - Mark Smith
Patricia Creede - Marva White
Rhonda Hampton - Judy Dodd
Denny Tweed - Cathleen Burden[B]
Cheryl Hiney - Mary Gullo[B]
Marlene Frazier - Marlene Robinson[C] 
 
99ER
Fred Schellack - Walt Kelso
Donna Rayburn - Ronald Rayburn[C]
Cheryl Ryder - Ann Keag[C]
Fred Schellack - Joyce Furnas
June E. Weber - Ruby Buttereck
Brenda Ward - Walt Kelso