Bridge Blog 1131: Trying to remember those times in September (now fully recalled)

Months melt into one another online as I play pandemic bridge. I miss people. I certainly miss going to play in Canada on Fridays. And I miss earning points.

        However, since I play Bridge Base Online with the St. Catharines, Ont., club, it’s still the same stiff competition. I struggled to earn points over there in face-to-face sessions. On a virtual level, it’s still a struggle.

        I mean, just look at September – 4.54 points for the month, which brings me up to 54.11 for the year in club play. OK, OK, it’s the best I’ve done since I joined the fray on BBO six months ago. But it’s a pittance compared to other Buffalo players. Overall, my haul is 58.66.

Meanwhile, on OKBridge, where I play more often (partner Selina Volpatti prefers it) and which doesn’t count in the ACBL master point derbies, things are much brighter. Include OKB and my total for the year doubles –119.50. Be that as it may, let’s go off to the races on the ACBL website.

Ace of Clubs (Club Play Only). Unit 116 (Just Buffalo). Gold Life Masters (Players with 2,500 to 3,500 points).

Allen Beroza cruises further ahead. He has 116.92 points, up 22.35 for the month, and is third overall among all players in the unit. Thirty days earlier, he was fourth overall.

David Millward, second a month ago, has disappeared. He’s probably flown back to Florida. Taking his place as runner-up is Ken Meier with 84.26, a full 18.72 better than a month ago. He’s tenth overall, up from #13.

My 54.11 catapults me into third place, back ahead of Mike Silverman, who has 50.61. I’m #28 overall, same as last month. He’s #29, down from #27.

After that, it’s Fred Yellen adding 1.49 points to reach 40.21, #38 overall, down from #36. Art Morth stands pat at 28.48, dropping to #61 overall from #54.

Bill Rushmore moves up a notch by earning just 0.91 point in September, reaching 18.66. He’s #83 overall, up from #84. It’s enough to pass John Sinclair, who’s motionless at 18.09. He’s #86 overall, down from #76.

Rounding out the list are Chongmin Zhang, unmoved at 7.62, #181 overall, down from #169; and Pat Rasmus, also unchanged at 2.79. She’s #254 overall, down from #248.

Ace of Clubs. Unit 116. All players.

The Weltes, John and Martha, continue to rule. They had a super September, collecting 64.18 points apiece. Tied for first again, they have a total of 336.70.

Alan Greer, who led earlier in the year during face-to-face play, has now been out of action for so long that three more players passed him last month.

Gold Life Master leader Allen Beroza moves up a notch to third with 116.92. Bud Seidenberg added 13.69 to reach fourth with 106.62.

Fifth place – surprise! – is Jim Lanzo, an NABC master. He reached the century mark with 25.64 points in September and now has 103.33. Alan Greer is next with the same 100.85 he’s had since March.

Seventh is Saleh Fetouh, whose 11.96 points give him 92.89, followed by Gay Simpson, 86.65; Barbara Libby, 84.40; and Ken Meier, 84.26.

To make it a dozen, let’s bring in Vic Bergsten, 76.27; and Larry Himelein, 74.18. Baker’s dozen? OK, Bob Sommerstein, 72.69, just enough to pass another early leader who hasn’t ventured online, Nancy Wolstoncroft, standing pat once again with 72.31. And OMG, at #15 there’s Martha Townson, who's ranked as a novice. She’s got 71.84. Maybe she's not really all that inexperienced. 

Mini-McKenney (Club points plus tournament points). Unit 116. Gold Life Masters.

Allen Beroza continues his reign with 128.95, 22.35 better than a month ago. He’s fifth among all Buffalo players, up from seventh a month ago.

Runner-up used to be David Millward. Now that he’s flown, Ken Meier roosts in his place with 96.59, up 18.72, #13 overall, up from #15.

With 58.66 points, I have just enough zip to pass John Sinclair and take third place. I’m #31 overall, up from a tie for #36. John once again added no points. He’s still 58.36, #32 overall, down from #30.

Mike Silverman is fifth with 55.77, #34 overall, up from #35. Fred Yellen is sixth with 55.61, #35 overall, up from that tie for #36.

Big step down to Art Morth, unchanged at 35.04, #60 overall, down from #53. Bill Rushmore has 24.50, #78 overall, down from #76. The last two on the list also are unchanged point-wise. Chongmin Zhang has 9.98, #160, down from #152, and Pat Rasmus has 2.79, #259, down from #254.

Mini-McKenney. Unit 116. All Players.

Yes, the Weltes. 399.97 points, thanks to winning ways that were even winninger in September (64.18) than they were in August (61.21). They’ve run a circle around third-place Saleh Fetouh, who added only 11.94 points to reach 182.75.

Then comes Davis Heussler, 148.47; Allen Beroza, 128.95; Bud Seidenberg, 128.76; Jim Lanzo, 120.72; Linda Burroughsford, 114.83; Alan Greer, 100.85; and Amita Arora, 100.21.

Knocking on the door of the Top Ten (and the century mark, as well) are Bob Sommerstein, 99.91; Gay Simpson, 97.29; Ken Meier, 96.59; Vic Bergsten, 95.24; and Chris Urbanek, 91.64.

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

Even with the departure of David Millward, Buffalo is still one-two here. Stepping into second place is Ken Meier. His 84.26 is good enough to stay ahead of Kenneth Eichler of Murrysville, Pa., 79.35; and Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., 78.79. Meier is #41 among all players in the district, Eichler is #44, Goulding #46.

Leader, of course, is Buffalo’s Allen Beroza with 116.92. He’s #16 overall.

Fifth place belongs to Barry Boyd of Wheeling, W. Va., with 69.46 (#65 overall). Then it’s Jayne Stahr of Stow, Ohio, 65.06 (#78); Peter Merker of Mentor, Ohio, 60.03 (#99); Carolyn Sullivan of Richfield, Ohio, 59.53 (#102); and Ronald Sain of Indiana, Pa., 56.05 (#111).

I’m sitting tenth with 54.11. I’m #122 overall, down from #115. Next is Mike Silverman with 50.61. He’s #133 overall, down from #113.

Ace of Clubs. District 5. All Players.

The Weltes narrowed the margin between them and first-place Paul Holmes of Wadsworth, Ohio. A month ago, they were 32 points behind. Now the gap is 24.

Still fourth with 275.70 after a 64.09 point month is Erin Gonzalez of Mars, Pa. Reanette Frobouck of Pittsburgh retains a distant fifth with 201.08 following a mere 15.82 month.

Rounding out the Top Ten are Richard Katz of North Versailles, Pa., 194.90; Richard and Monica Early of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 183.15 and 167.63, respectively; and Stewart and Sandra Metosky of Pittsburgh, 162.40 and 157.64, respectively.

Mini-McKenney. District 5. Gold Life Masters.

Still the domain of Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa. Even though he only added 6.64 points in September, he’s got 207.47 and he’s wayyyy ahead of Buffalo’s Allen Beroza, who’s runner-up with 128.95. Goulding is eighth in the district, down from seventh. Beroza is #27 overall, up from #34.

Bumping Gary Sikon of Cleveland out of third place is Barry Boyd of Wheeling, W. Va. He has 113.61, having gathered 28.74 points last month. He’s #39 overall, up from #57. Sikon is fourth with 97.17, having taken only 5.24. He’s #55 overall, down from #47.

Advancing from eighth to fifth place is Buffalo’s Ken Meier with 96.59 (#56 overall, up from #71). He displaces Peter Merker of Mentor, Ohio, now sixth with 91.68 (#59, up from #61); and Kenneth Eichler of Murrysville, Pa., sitting seventh with 88.51 (#65, down from #64).

Up to eighth from ninth is Jayne Stahr of Stow, Ohio, with 72.42 (#112, down from #92). New on the list is Carolyn Sullivan of Richfield, Ohio, with 66.34 (#131). And still tenth is Leroy Hackenberg of Pittsburgh with 62.62 (#140 overall, up from #142).

Here I am at #11 with my 58.66, up from a tie for #13. I’m #162 overall, up from a tie for #163.

Mini-McKenney. District 5. All Players.

The first four keep their positions.

Paul Holmes of Wadsworth, Ohio, maintains his place on top with 422.53, having added 56.23. Tied for second are Buffalonians John and Martha Welte with 399.97, an increase of 64.18. Fourth continues to be Reanette Frobouck of Pittsburgh with 328.62, just 15.82 better than a month ago.

Shaking things up behind her is Erin Gonzalez of Mars, Pa., who collected 64.09 points in September to reach 294.80 and now sits in fifth place. She bumped Richard Katz of North Versailles, Pa., who’s sixth with 253.91.

Richard Early of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, advances one spot to seventh with 220.93, bumping Philip Goulding of Wexford, Pa., who has 207.47. Ninth is Monica Early, also of Cuyahoga Falls, with 193.95. Phillip Becker of Beachwood, Ohio, is tenth with 192.99.

Holding #11 is Buffalo’s Saleh Fetouh with 182.75, slipping past perennial district leader Sue Lan Ma of Akron, Ohio, who has 178.47 and is unchanged for three months.

(National leaders now complete)

Ace of Clubs. Nationwide. Gold Life Masters.

Now it’s really a horse race in this division. Challengers are right on the heels of longtime leader Russ Pearly of The Villages, Fla. Pearly’s still in the lead with 423.21, having grabbed another 65.32 points in September.

But that puts him just barely ahead of David Morse of New Minas, Nova Scotia, who has 420.10 after picking up 71.48 points. That puts him ahead of last month’s runner-up, Dolores Aquino of Houston, who has 416.78, 66.15 better than she stood when she turned over the last leaf on her calendar.

After that, it’s Yacob (Jacob) Rubeinstien of Holland, Pa., 361.82; Lynn Leisy of Ameila Island, Fla., 350.71; Steve Vaughn of Kingwood, Texas, 325.69; Wendy Lee of East Hanover, N.J., 324.78; Peter Martin of Kennesaw, Ga., 324.31; and Ann Buchholz of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., 290.87. And I can’t cut things off without mentioning the trio from The Villages who sit #11 to #13 – Alex Booke, 267.31; Jonathan Williams, 267.10; and Sandy Booke, 264.58.

Allen Beroza is the leading Unit 116 representative on this list. He’s #179, up from #199, with his 116.92. Also carrying the flag for us is Ken Meier at #386, up from #462, with his 84.26. And the flown-away David Millward? Now listed at Vero Beach, Fla., he’s a few stations south of Ken at #398 with 83.19 points. The list stops at 73.87.

Ace of Clubs. Nationwide. All Players.

Here’s where the really big numbers show up. Lots of them were rung up by Stephen Garreffa of Randolph, N.J., who was second a month ago. Now he’s on top with 623.57, having packed in another 119.98 points.

Moving up to second place is Milton Neher of Richardson, Texas, with 595.20, collecting 139.86. He moved past last month’s leader, Gillian Minter of New York City. Her 589.40 represents a mere 61.79 point improvement.

Speaking of improvement, Robert McClendon of Ponte Vedra, Fla., jumps to fourth place from eighth. His 559.06 is 147.82 better. Let’s just call him Mr. September.

He’s put some daylight between himself and fifth-place Jack Jones of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who has 517.30. Then its Ann McClelland of The Villages with 516.77, Mel Norton of Burlington, Ont., 507.80; Piotr Olszewski of Hackettstown, N.J., 404.92; Bella Ionis-Sorren of Fort Launderdale, 491.22; and Stephen Cooper of Belle Mead, N.J., 466.08.

Gold Life Master leader Russ Pearly, #14 a month ago, is now #16. Once again, the Weltes are the only Buffalonians on the list. They’re tied for #47 with 336.70. A month ago, they were tied for #50. The list stops at 175.67.

Mini-McKenney. Nationwide. Gold Life Masters.

No movement at all among the top five. Dolores Aquino of Houston maintains at 24-point lead over Lynn Leisy of Amelia Island, Fla., 537.72 to 513.51. Dolores had a 67.15 point month. Lynn brought home 66.30.

Slipping off the pace is Mason Barge of Atlanta with 470.26 after a 45.29 point month. Then come Ann Buchholz of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., 452.74; Gold Life Master Ace of Clubs leader Russ Pearly, 446.44; David Morse of New Minas, Nova Scotia, 440.53; Peter Martin of Kennesaw, Ga., 405 even; that Yacob (Jacob) Rubinstien fella, 403.67; Daniel Jablonski of Stoneham, Mass., 361.77; and Wendy Lee of East Hanover, N.J., 353.60.

Buffalo’s standard-bearer, Allen Beroza, with 128.95, is tied for #229, up from #261. Meanwhile, Muriel Tremblay from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., who sat at #483 last month, is missing. The list of 500 stops at 92.25, up 12.06 since August.

Mini-McKenney. Nationwide. All Players.

One more player has made it into four figures this month. It’s Gillian Miniter of New York City, sitting second again with 1,030.03, having gained 61.79 points.

Pulling further ahead is the leader, Robert McClendon of Ponte Vedra, Fla. He has 1,280.05, a full 147.78 points better.

The next three players keep their places – Joe Grue and John Hurd of New York City, with 851.97 and 810.99 respectively; and Jacob Morgan of Madison, Wis., 754.92.

Stepping up to sixth is a guy who debuted in the Top 10 last month, Peter J. Boyd-Bowman of Greensboro, N.C. He now has 740.93, up 109.61 since August. He displaces Mark Itabashi of Murrieta, Calif., who has 718.55.

Mel Norton of Burlington, Ont., tenth a month ago, is now eighth with 716.83 after an 89.28 point effort. Debuting in ninth place is John Brady of Jacksonville, Fla., with 695.19. Also new to the list in tenth is Piotr Olszewski of Hackettstown, N.J., with 676.77. Bumped down to #11 is Alex Hudson of Morrisville, N.C., with 673.46. Sliding precipitously is the legendary Jeff Meckstroth. Seventh a month ago, he’s now #16, having not added anything to his 640.90.

Former Buffalonian Joel Wooldridge, #109 a month ago, is still #109 with 383.50, having added 49.83 to maintain his position. Meanwhile, John and Martha Welte have zipped past him. They’re tied for #94, up from #114, with 399.97. The magic 500 ends this month at 229.70.