Bridge Blog 1127: Halfway mark (now fully halfway)

And yet the ACBL hasn’t added my OKBridge winnings into the Master Point Races. Three months’ worth – April, May and June. I go to My ACBL and see them registered there, but over in the races, it’s as if they didn’t exist.

It’s a point of master point pride. And, dammit,  it’s significant. Add those missing 29 points to my collection and I’m the king of the hill – the Ace of Clubs and Mini-McKenney leader among the Gold Life Masters in Unit 116. Without them, I’m a groundling, an also-run, a mere fourth in the club category and sixth in the Mini-McKenney, which counts all points earned everywhere.

Oh well, I’ll have to rant at those ACBL people. In the meantime, let’s just run down those midyear standings.

Ace of Clubs (club play only). Unit 116 (Buffalo only). Gold Life Masters (2,500 to 3,500 points).

David Millward would be second, but there he is on top with 60.49. He’s seventh overall among all Unit 116 players. Allen Beroza has found his way into the online games, moving his total up to 56.52. He’s eighth overall. Third Goldie is Ken Meier with 48.58. Overall, he’s #14.

Without those 21.53 OKB points, I hold the same number I had a month ago – 41.16 – having not won anything at all in June with Selina Volpatti in our  Bridge Centre of Niagara virtual club games on Bridge Base Online. I’m #20 overall.

Fifth is Mike Silverman with 39.53 (#22 overall). Then it’s Fred Yellen, 37.67 (#28); Art Morth, 26 even (#42); John Sinclair, 17.56 (#67); Bill Rushmore, 13.49 (#90); Chongmin Zhang, 5.94 (#165), and Pat Rasmus, 2.79 (#227).

Ace of Clubs. Unit 116. All players.

It’s the Weltes, who must be cleaning up on Bridge Base Online. They’re tied for first place with 162.83 apiece. Alan Greer, who isn’t playing online, stays at 100.85. Nancy Wolstoncroft, who also isn’t playing online, holds at 72.31 and now has been passed by Bud Seidenberg, who has 75.93.

Then it’s Saleh Fetouh with 67.63, David Millward, 60.49; Allen Beroza, 56.52; Sharon Benz, 54.11; Barbara Libby, 53.24; and in eleventh place, Larry Abate with 52.31. He’s passed Mike Ryan, who has 50.35 and apparently isn’t playing online, either.  

Mini-McKenney (All points earned everywhere). Unit 116. Gold Life Masters.

Hey, Allen Beroza has tiptoed past David Millward. He has 66.42 points and is #12 among all Unit 116 players, while David has 65.15 and is #13.

Then it’s former leader John Sinclair with 57 even (#19 overall), Ken Meier, 55.28 (#21); Fred Yellen, 53.07 (#26); moi, 45.71 (plus an invisible 29) (#30); Mike Silverman, 44.69 (#32); Art Morth, 31.30 (#48); Bill Rushmore, 19.33 (#78); Chongmin Zhang, 8.30 (#150), and Pat Rasmus, 2.79 (#232).

Mini-McKenney. Unit 116. All players.

Welte and Welte, John and Martha, 219.12 and another 219.12. They’re way ahead of Saleh Fetouh, who has 157.49. Beyond that, it’s Davis Heussler, 133.75; Linda Burroughsford, 110.89; Alan Greer, 100.85; Bud Seidenberg, 98.07; Nancy Wolstoncroft, 72.95; Bob Sommerstein, 72.61; Larry Abate, 71.30; and eleventh, Chris Urbanek, 70.67. Then Allen Beroza and David Millward step in.

(more to come)
(and here it is)

Ace of Clubs. District 5 (Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh). Gold Life Masters.

Sigh! No OKBridge points apply, so instead of first, I’m eighth. Nevertheless, I’m helping us Buffaloons hold down half of the top ten spots.

David Millward, 60.49 (#27 overall); Allen Beroza, 56.52 (#33); Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., 52.50 (#42); Ken Meier, 48.58 (#51); Kenneth Eichler of Murrysville, Pa., 48.57 (#52); Brenda Merkich of Cortland, Ohio, 47.46 (#54); Jayne Stahr of Stow, Ohio, 44.49 (#63); moi, 41.16 (#75); Allen Selling of Erie, Pa., 40.11 (#85); and Mike Silverman, 39.53 (#88).

Ace of Clubs. District 5. All Players.

Believe it or not, the Weltes are not on top. Close, but they trail Paul Holmes of Wadsworth, Ohio, who maintains his place on the throne with 181.10 after a 50.40 point month.

The Weltes, however, now occupy a tie for second place with 162.83, having racked up 45.83 points together in May. They passed Reanette Frobouck of Pittsburgh, who added a mere 22.85 points to reach 143.40.

Fifth is Richard Katz, who had a 28.46 point month and sits with 131.22. After that, it’s Erin Gonzalez of Mars, Pa., 121.39; Richard Early of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 102.26; our Alan Greer, motionless at 100.85; Monica Early of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 89.81; and Jeffrey Weiss of Novelty, Ohio, 81.78.

Mini-McKenney. District 5. Gold Life Masters.

Here it’s Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., way, way ahead with 164.70. He’s seventh overall in the District. He has more than double the points of second-place Gary Sikon of Cleveland, who has 74.73. He’s #41 overall.

Then the Buffalonians kick up. Allen Beroza, 66.42 (#56); David Millward, 65.15 (#58); Barry Boyd of Wheeling, W.Va., 63.88 (#60); Kenneth Eichler, 57.73 (#82); John Sinclair, 57 even (#86); Ken Meier, 55.28 (#92); Fred Yellen, 53.07 (#101); and Peter Merker of Mentor, Ohio, 52.95 (#102). I’m #14 with my 45.71, and #143 overall.

Mini-McKenney. District 5. All Players.

Reanette Frobouck of Pittsburgh rules the roost here, amassing 150.39 points in June to stand at 270.94. The Weltes move up to a tie for second with 219.12, having added 102.13 each. Last month’s leader, Paul Holmes of Wadsworth, Ohio, is found in fourth with 200.47, having added only 69.53 points.

Then it’s Richard Katz of North Versailles, Pa., 190.23; Sue La Man of Kirtland Hills, Ohio, 178.47; Goldie leader Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., 164.70; Buffalo’s Saleh Fetouh, 157.49; Phillip Becker of Beachwood, Ohio, 145.61; and Richard Early of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 140.04. Sitting at #11 is Buffalo’s Davis Heussler with 133.75. Next Buffalonian is Bud Seidenberg at #22 with 98.07.

Ace of Clubs. Nationwide. Gold Life Masters.

Russ Pearly of The Villages, Fla., keeps on rolling. Another 42.50 points in June to reach 265.73, though it’s not quite the accumulation that David Morse of New Minas, Nova Scotia, amassed. He’s now second with 238.51 after a 51.69 point month.

Morse leapfrogged over Mason Barge of Atlanta, still third with 224.71 after a 44.85 point month. Dropping to fourth is last month’s second-place holder, Dolores Aquino of Houston, who has 222.83 after a 34.61 point effort.

After that, it’s Wendy Lee of East Hanover, N.J., with 204.77; Yacob (Jacob) Rubinstien (?) (Rubinstein?) of Holland, Pa., 183.62: Lynn Leisy of Amelia Island, Fla., 180.26; Steve Vaughn of Kingwood, Texas, 163.46; Peter Martin of Kennsesaw, Ga., 159.66; and then a quartet from The Villages – Jonathan Williams, 157.43; Alex and Sandy Booke, with 149.34 and 148.07, respectively; and Paul Hassett, 144.12.

Look way down the list and you’ll find the Buffalonians. There’s David Millward at #269 with his 60.49, Allen Beroza at #329 with 56.52 and Ken Meier at #458 with 48.58.

Ace of Clubs. Nationwide. All Players.

Gillian Miniter of New York City gathered 74.60 points in June and she needed them to stay on top. Now she’s got 371.27, but not quite as much of a lead as she had last month over Stephen Garreffa of Randolph, N.J. He collected 78.65 points and stands at 347.21.

Advancing one place to third is Milton Neher of Richardson, Texas, with has 330.03, after a 68.37 point month. He eclipsed Jack Jones of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who took in just 54 even and has 315.67.

After that, it’s Mel Norton of Burlington, Ont., with 308.19; Ann McClelland of The Villages, Fla., with 303.80; two more from Fort Lauderdale – Bella Ionis-Sorren and Michael Wolf, with 299.78 and 268.19, respectively; Goldie leader Russ Pearly of The Villages with 265.73; and Piotr Olszewski of Hackettstown, N.J., with 254.78.

As for the Unit 116 players, we have John and Martha Welte tied at #84 with 162.83. And then there’s Alan Greer at #495 with his eternal 100.85. The list ends at 100.69.

Mini-McKenney. Nationwide. Gold Life Masters.

Dolores Aquino of Houston holds on in first with 341.42, having brought home another 44.53 in June. Slipping up into second is Lynn Leisy of Amelia Island, Fla., whose 329.38 is 78.80 better than a month ago.

Leisy also did a leapfrog over Mason Barge of Atlanta, who continues in third place with 325.26. Dropping to fourth is April leader Ann Buchholz of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., with 295.11.

Then we have Russ Pearly of The Villages, Fla., with 288.96; Daniel Jablonski of Stoneham, Mass., 273.43; David Morse of New Minas, Nova Scotia, 258.94; Peter Martin of Kennesaw, Ga., 240.35; Wendy Lee of East Hanover, N.J., 233.59; and that Yacob Jacob Rubinstien Rubenstein guy from Holland, Pa., 219.66.

And where are the Buffalonians? Allen Beroza is #444 with his 66.42 and David Millward is at #463 with 65.15. The list stops at 63.54. And who do we see at #500? None other than Lorna Johnson from St. Catharines, Ont., with 63.54.

Mini-McKenney. Nationwide. All Players.

It’s Robert McClendon of Ponte Vedra, Fla., again. He found 82.71 points in June to reach 833.89 to stay way out in front.

Occupying second place, however, is Gillian Miniter of New York City, who collected 112.99 and now has 748.09. She bumped Jacob Morgan of Madison, Wis., to third place. He has 677.46 after taking in only 6.77 points. He’s sure to succumb soon to Joe Grue of New York City, who has 677.02, having earned 50.15 in June.

Still sitting fifth is another New Yorker – John Hurd with 575.34 after a 55.50 point month.

Last year’s all-around champ, Mark Itabashi of Murrieta, Calif., moved up one slot to sixth, bringing home 71.60 to reach 574.33. He displaced James Melville of Springville, Ill., who took in only 1.57 points and has 517.42. Then it’s Mel Norton of Burlington, Ont., with 510.47; Shan Huang of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 481.21; and Bjorgvin Kristinsson of Mesa, Ariz., with 474.79.

The legendary Jeff Meckstroth of Clearwater Beach, Fla., is #15 with 453.10. Former Buffalonian Joel Wooldridge, now of Jackson Heights, Queens, is #113 with 269.90.

We find the Weltes, John and Martha, tied for #206 with 219.12. And hey, there’s Saleh Fetouh, hanging in at #491 with 157.49. The list stops at 156.56.