Out of action since June 2 because
of major surgery (bladder cancer), I’ve been in recovery mode ever since. My
energy level has been frustratingly low, so low that I’ve had no ambition to go
after the monthly wrap-up for May. And it still is low today on this rainy June
27.
Nevertheless,
there’s nothing like a deadline to stir the blood and since it’s almost time
for the ACBL to start tabulations for June, May is crying out to be summarized,
crying out in a voice not unlike Elvis. What’s that song I hear? It’s now or
never.
OK,
let’s break it out. In Ace of Clubs competition, which is just club play, my
end-of-May total is 33.42, up 7.38 since April. For the Mini-McKenney, it’s
53.10, up 23.32 since April. That includes all points earned everywhere and is
beefed up handsomely by my good fortune at the Rochester Regional.
Among
Unit 116 (Buffalo only) players in the 1,000-2,500 point division, I once again
miss the Top 10 for the Ace of Clubs. I’m still in 12th place.
Returning
to the top spot on this list is John Ziemer, with 74.06, followed by Fred
Yellen, 69.44; Mike Silverman, 63.69; Martin Pieterese, 62.32; David Millward,
61.53; Ken Meier, 59.02; Walt Olszewski, 47.22; Bill Finkelstein, 42.77;
Barbara Pieterese, 39.17; Allen Beroza, 38.98; Dorothy May, 35.86; and then me.
Given
my absence from the tables this month, I’m expecting to be overtaken in June by
the players breathing on my heels – Gene Finton, 30.96; Elaine Kurasiewicz, 29.92;
and Eleanor Whelan, 28.05.
Over
on the Mini-McKenney list, where my standing is usually lower than it is on the
Ace of Clubs, the opposite is in effect this month. I’m in tenth place.
Here
David Hemmer rules the roost with 99.70 points, followed by John Ziemer, 95.68;
Martin Pieterese, 92.77; Fred Yellen, 89.36; Ken Meier, 81.30; David Millward,
80.12; Barbara Pieterse, 69.62; Mike Silverman, 65.67; Walt Olszewski, 54.94;
then me with 53.10.
Who
are Unit 116’s overall champs in all divisions? In Ace of Clubs, it’s Meg Klamp
(7,500-10,000) with 90.76 and Jerry Geiger (5,000-7,500) with 81.39. As for
Mini McKenney, it’s Saleh Fetouh (2,500-5,000) with 155.18, then Dan Gerstman
(over 10,000), 150.76; Meg Klamp, 135.92; Chris Urbanek (7,500-10,000), 123.36;
and Mike Ryan (2,500-5,000), 120.07.
The
District 5 (Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh) Ace of Clubs race finds Unit 116
players continuing to dominate the 1,000-2,500 point list. We hold down the top
six positions and seven of the first eight. I’m 40th.
Over
on the District 5 Mini McKenney, the Ohio players continue to rule. Sue Lan Ma
of Kirtland Hills is first with 292.38, followed by Fleur Howard of Gates Mills
with 270.54 and Peter Merker of Mentor with 190.03. Fourth is Francis Tseng of
Erie, Pa., with 111.80. Fifth is Charles Ladiha of Vermillion, Ohio, with 109.70.
David Hemmer is seventh and Buffalo players hold down the next three positions,
as well.
Big
guns nationally in Ace of Clubs, 1,000-2,500 division, are mostly Floridians,
as usual. On top is Sanford Robbins of Miami Lakes, Fla., with 184.08; then
Edward Rauch of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 172.63; Lynn Fort III of Charlotte,
N.C., 134.33; David Schapira of Delray Beach, Fla., 132.18; and Edward Maier of
Sarasota, Fla., 131.74.
The
Unit 116 leader, John Ziemer, is 171st. Fred Yellen is 227th, Mike Silverman is
332nd, Martin Pieterse is tied for 367th. David Millward is 396th. And Ken
Meier is 488th.
Meanwhile,
the Mini McKenney leaders all are from California – Aaron Jones of Orange,
501.41; Edmund Wu of San Francisco, 500.93; Peter Gelfand of Corralitos, 461.52;
John Jefferson of Davis, 382.85; and Cookie Potter (love that name) of Sunset
Beach, 360.30. District 5’s Sue Lan Ma is 13th. Unit 116’s David Hemmer doesn’t
crack the Top 500.
