Bridge Blog 479: One month to go

          Right on time, the ACBL has updated its master point races. Let’s see where we stand as we enter the last month of the year. My Ace of Clubs total is 142.84, which lifts me to fifth in Unit 116 (Buffalo), just ahead of Vince Pesce with 140.54. Mike Kisiel is still tops, now with 234.76, followed by Liz Clark (177.58), John Ziemer (173.35) and Carlton Stone (158.14). Rounding out the list are Carolyn Siracuse (124.57), Judy Padgug (114.18), Jim Gullo (98.92) and Paul Libby (98.48).

          For the Mini-McKenney, which includes both club play and tournament play, I’ve advanced to seventh place in the unit with 173.88 points. Dian Petrov tops this list with 338.70, followed by Mike Kisiel (244.87), John Ziemer (240.02), Judy Padgug (224.29), Liz Clark (190.72) and Carlton Stone (179.91). After me comes Vince Pesce (149.39), Kathy Pollock (147.38) and Mike Ryan (142.70).

          On the District 5 level (Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh), I’m seventh in Ace of Clubs and still haven’t quite cracked my way onto the Mini-McKenney Top 25. I’m just short of Lois Bulter of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, who has 176.78. Maybe my STaC points can lift me up at year-end. Leader on this list is Hao Ge of Bay Village, Ohio, with 642.81. Dian Petrov is second. Kisiel is ninth.

I’m nowhere to be found on the nationwide lists, which go 100 deep. I’d need 164.58 to tie the bottom guy on Ace of Clubs (top once again is Zita Lechter of Sunny Isles, Fla., with 356.66 – Kisiel is 11th) and to make national Mini-McKenney, I’d need to have 323.37. Top dog again here is Geeske Joel of Palo Alto, Calif., with 890.38. Hao Ge is sixth. Dian Petrov is 78th.