Two national champion pins awarded at Bradenton shuffleboard event
Two players from the Southwest Coast District of Florida won their coveted National Champion Pins on Nov. 2 at FL P-5 National Singles at Bradenton.
Peter Berg won the Non-Walking Men’s Division and Flo Kowalewski won the Women’s Non-Walking. Berg, of Ontario, and Kowalewski, of Florida, are now life-time eligible for the Florida Tournament of Champions.
Jim Miller of Indiana won the Men’s Walking Division — for the umpteenth time. All three of these champions are from Bradenton Shuffle Club.
A sad note this week as Mel Erb of Sugar Creek, Ohio, and Pinecraft in Sarasota County, who played out of Bradenton Shuffle Club as well, died last Thursday after long illness. Erb, Florida Hall of Fame 2008, loved shuffling as much as any of us. Playing intensely, he was a perfect gentleman off the court. Erb will be missed greatly by all of us, his family and his fellow Cleveland Indians fans.
There is a Singles-Mingles Tournament on Nov. 25 at Palmetto. The entry fee is $10, including hot dog and drink, open to all.
District Clubs have 2016-17 Previews for $1, a bargain in sports literature and helpful to all shufflers. Players will note that the red-line centerspread is now called open tournaments rather than pro. Remember, the upper division is open to all. You are not required to be a pro to play at Florida State tournaments, except the Tournament of Champions.
At SWCD A-2 at Palmetto, less than 16 amateurs were registered, so if they drew for partners, less than eight teams would have meant all players got no points. So it was played as singles, allowing seven to earn points. At the Open District Board Meeting on Saturday, many felt this worked so well, that perhaps next year singles should be played until Jan. 1. The vote was delayed until January, so opinions are welcome. Feel free to state any strongly held views.
Happy shuffling.
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
FL P-5 (Oct. 31-Nov. 2): at Bradenton, National Doubles. Ladies Non-Walking. Main: 1. Flo Kowalewski, 2. Terri Smith. Consolation: 1. Kathy Smith, 3. Shirley McCullough, 4. Marilyn Everett. Men’s Non-Walking. Main 1. Peter Berg, 2. Bob Kendall, 3. Tom Putnam. Consolation: 1. Ed Leonard, 2. Paul Knepper, 3. Vern Wallingford, 4. Ned Fogarty. Men’s Walking. Main: 1. Jim Miller, 4. Jerry Stannard. Consolation: 1. Jerry Everett, 4. Nelson Kellogg.
SWCD D-5 (Nov. 3): at Palmetto, M/L Draw Dbls, 16 frames or 75 points. Ladies Main: 1. Marilyn Everett-Pam Nurnberger, 2. Letha DeVries-Janet Doud, 3. Donna Schultz-Nancy Sclafani, 4. Lois Wegner-Evelyn White. Consolation: 1. Jane Schram-Bonnie Walker, 2. Arlene McCague-Cheryl Putnam, 3. Margaret Hartzler-Pat Tomko, 4. Linda Wallingford-Marie Hunter. Men’s Main: 1. Larry Taylor-Bob Kendall, 2.Carl Olmstead-Dave Minnich, 3. Joe Kent-Phil Booher, 4. Hank Hoekstra-John L. Brown. Consolation: 1. Faren VanDeGrift-Jim Smith, 2. Grant Childerhose-Jean Wilson, Jr., 3. Dave Kudro-Bill Comford, 4. Jerry Stannard-Ed Leonard.
SWCD A-2 (Nov. 4): at Palmetto, Any Ams/Any Dbls, Draw, 16 frames/75 points, played as Singles due to low registration. Main 1. Cindy Slaughterbeck, 2.Kathy Kendall, 3. Jim Lessard, 4. Brad Thomas. Consolation: 1. David Evenson, 2. Freeman Byler, 3. Frank Marderosian, 4. Janice O’Sullivan.
COMING UP
Today
FL P-6A: at DeLand, M/L Doubles, no lunches, third day of competition.
FL P-6B: at Port Charlotte, M/L Doubles, no lunches, third day of competition.
Thursday
SWCD D-6: at Bradenton, M/L Dbls, 75 points, No lunches.
Friday
SWCD A-3: at Bradenton, Any Ams/Any Dbls.
Monday
FL P-7A: at Bradenton, M/L Dbls
FL P-7B: at Tropical Haven, Mixed Dbls.
FL A-4A: at Lee County, Any Ams/Any Dbls.
FL A-4B: at Betmar, Any Ams/Any Dbls.
This story was originally published November 8, 2016 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Two national champion pins awarded at Bradenton shuffleboard event."