Bridge Blog 1138: The long and short of February

 

Two months into the new year and the hierarchies in the ACBL’s master point races are already set. The haves really have it. The rest of us are trailing way behind. Here’s the way it looked as February ended.

Ace of Clubs (club play only). Unit 116 (just Buffalo). Gold Life Masters (2,500 to 3,500 points). Here a three-tier system has developed, thanks to those super-achievers, the Weltes. John and Martha are way, way, way out in front. They added 84.55 points to their collection and now have 179.70. They’re also first overall in the unit.

Ken Meier and Allen Beroza comprise the second tier. This month Ken is ahead with 44.43, having added 22.77 to his total, while Allen has 41.89, earning just 13.30 more. Ken is fifth in the unit. Allen is eighth.

Then we take another big step down and there I am in fifth place with 10.77, having added only 4.16. It was enough to boost me past Bill Rushmore, who has 9.67 after a 2.40 point month. I’m #42 overall, down from #35. Bill is #47, down from #30.

Right behind us is Fred Yellen with 9.23, which is 3.83 better than last month. He’s #50 in the unit, down from #40. Rounding out the list are Davis Heussler with 6.61 (#64) and Pat Rasmus, standing pat with just 0.84 (#151).

Ace of Clubs. Unit 116. All Players.

No mystery at the top, where John and Martha Welte reign with 179.70, but lots of jostling and jockeying beneath Barbara Libby, who maintains third place with 51.50, up 17.89. Martha Townson, who has been burning up the novice games, jumps from seventh to fourth with 45.43 after a 21.30 point month. Then it’s Ken Meier, 44.43; Vic Bergsten, 43.68; Jim Lanzo, 42.42; Allen Beroza, 41.89; Sandi England, down from fifth to ninth with 37.92; and Judi Marshall, slipping from eighth to tenth with 34.96.

Sharon Benz once more starts the teens, again #11 with 31.24; Gay Simpson steps up to #12 from #14 with 31.15. Larry Himelein jumps from #17 to #13 with 28.67. Then it’s Amita Arora, 26.35; Bob Sommerstein, 24.7; Judy Padgug, 21.61; Linda Henschel, 21.29; Jim Easton and Marilyn Wortzman tied with 19.69; and Bonnie Clement, 18.96. We should also mention Bud Seidenberg, going strong as #21 at age 90, with 18.46.

Mini-McKenney (tournament and club points combined). Unit 116. Gold Life Masters.

In January, all the Mini-McKenney races were identical to the Ace of Clubs results. February separated them. The difference? Davis Heussler picked up about 9 points somewhere and bumped me down from fifth to sixth place. The list:

John and Martha Welte, 183.58 (first in the entire unit here, too). Ken Meier, 44.43 (seventh overall). Allen Beroza 41.89 (eighth overall). Davis Heussler, 15.51 (#24). Moi, 10.77 (#44). Bill Rushmore, 9.67 (#49). Fred Yellen, 9.23 (#52). Pat Rasmus, 0.84 (#152).

Mini-McKenney. Unit 116. All players.

John and Martha Welte, 183.58. Barbara Libby, 51.50. Martha Townson, 48.55. Jim Lanzo. 47.12. Vic Bergsten, 44.66. Ken Meier, 44.33. Allen Beroza, 41.89. Sandi England, 37.92. Amita Arora, 36.69, cracking the top ten thanks to 10.34 points in tournament play.

Judy Marshall, 34.96. Sharon Benz, 31.24. Gay Simpson, 31.15. Larry Himelein, 28.67. Bob Sommerstein, 24.73. Judy Padgug, 21.61. Linda Henschel, 21.29. Bonnie Clement, 21.23. The Jim Easton-Marilyn Wortzman tie, 20.65. And sitting at #21, Bud Seidenberg, 18.46, all Ace of Clubs points.

(added 25 March 21)

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

I’m not Top 10 here, by any stretch. With my measly 10.77 points, I’m lucky to be Top 20. The Weltes, however, have no trouble reigning over the region. They’re tied for first among the Goldies and among all the players from here to Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Here’s the list:

John and Martha Welte, 179.70 (tied for first overall, too). Monica Early of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 66.28 (fourth overall). Then a couple Buffalonians – Ken Meier, 44.43 (#18 overall), and Allen Beroza, 41.89 (#26).

The second tier of five is actually four – three Ohioans, David Norris of Rocky River, 32.36 (#48); Peter Merker of Mentor, 29.30 (#54); and Doug Snyder of Shaker Heights, 27.69 (#63). Rounding out the Top 10 are Jack Hawthorne of Valencia, Pa., 25.07; and then a big step down to Jayne Stahr of Show, Ohio, at 16.68 (#133).

Next Buffalonian to show up is me down at #18. I’m #255 overall. Bill Rushmore is #20 with his 9.67 (#284) and Fred Yellen is #21 with 9.23 (#296).

Ace of Clubs. District 5. All Players.

Well, we know it’s the Weltes. Third and fourth is another couple, Richard and Monica Early of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He has 67.78. She’s got 66.28.

Sitting fifth is perennial contender Reanette Frobouck of Pittsburgh with 60.47. After that, it’s Davis Bonner of Mentor, Ohio, 52.22; Bruce Cahoon of Silver Lake, Ohio, 51.98; Barbara Libby from our part of the world, 51.50; Sue Becker of Canton, Ohio, 50.77; and Celine O’Neill of Sewickley, Pa., 49.79.

Representing Unit 116 in the teens is our super-achieving novice, Martha Townson of East Aurora. She’s #15 with 45.43. Vic Bergsten of East Amherst is #22 with 43.68. Jim Lanzo of Lockport is #23 with 42.42. 

Mini-McKenney. District 5. Gold Life Masters.

The Top 10 doesn’t change and only three players accumulated tournament points in February. The Weltes have 183.58 on this list and they’re first among all players in the district, as well. And sixth-place David Norris has 37.52. He’s #35 overall. I’m #19 here and #264 among all players in the district.

Other Buffalonians on the list: Ken Meier, 44.43, fourth among the Goldies, #25 overall. Allen Beroza, 41.89, fifth and #30. Davis Heussler, 15.51 (#11 and #146). Bill Rushmore, 9.67 (#21 and #290). Fred Yellen, 9.23 (#22 and #304).

Mini-McKenney. District 5. All Players.

John and Martha Welte, 183.58; Erin Gonzalez of Mars, Pa., 82.05; Richard and Monica Early of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 67.78 and 66.28; Reanette Frobouck of Pittsburgh, 50.47; Joan Blinn of Holidaysburg, Pa., 57.60; Gary Cole of Norwalk, Ohio, 53.68; Davis Bonner of Mentor, Ohio, 52.22; and Bruce Cahoon of Silver Lake, Ohio, 51.98. On the threshold are Celine O’Neill of Sewickley, Pa., 51.55; and Barbara Libby of Tonawanda, 51.50.

Lots of Buffalonians can be found in the 20s here – Martha Townson, #21 with 48.55; Jim Lanzo, #22 with 47.12; Vic Bergsten, #24 with 44.66; Ken Meier, #25 with 44.33; and Allen Beroza, #30 with 41.89.

 (and finally) 

Ace of Clubs. Nationwide. Gold Life Masters.

        Believe it or not, somebody actually has more master points after two months than the Weltes do. He’s Piotr Olszewski of Hackettstown, N.J. He’s soared to 214.12, well ahead of John and Martha, who are tied for second with 179.70.

        Turns out there are plenty of Goldies in triple figures – 18 of them, in all. Here’s the rest of the Top 10: June Patton of Brevard, N.C., 171.32; Hal Jones Jr. of Lorton, Va., 165.21; Stephen Donahue of Riverwoods, Ill., 158.92; Yacob (Jacob) Rubinstien of Holland, Pa., 155.12; Irene and Anthony Toogood of Qualicum Beach, B.C., 139.44; and Jim Loffree of Naples, Fla., 138.94.

        Unit 116 is further represented by Ken Meier at #183 with his 44.43 and Allen Beroza at #210 with 41.89. The list ends at 26.53.

Ace of Clubs. Nationwide. All Players.

Holy moley! The Weltes aren’t even Top 10 here. They’re tied for #13. Here’s the charmed circle:

Judy Rothstein of Livingston, N.J., 261.95; Irva Neyhart of Portland, Ore., 228.74; Gold leader Piotr Olszewski, 214.12; Sundaresan Ram of Tucson, 202.26; Milton Neher of Richardson, Texas, 195.96; Stephen Gladyszak of Chelsea, Mass., 192.87; Tom Rutledge of Charleston, S.C., 192.20; David Rosenblatt of Palmetto Bay, Fla., 192.18; Stephen Cooper of Belle Mead, N.J., 190.14; and John Onstott of New Orleans, 188.45. On deck in #11 is Mel Norton of Burlington, Ont., 180.81; and Dolores Aquino of Houston, 179.91.

No other Unit 116 people here. The list stops at 66.36.

Mini-McKenney. Nationwide. Gold Life Masters.

Pretty close to the Ace of Clubs list, same names with one change in their order.

Piotr Olszewski, 214.12; John and Martha Welte, 183.58; Stephen Donohue, 183.34; June Patton, 171.32; Hal Jones Jr., 165.21; Yacob (Jacob) Rubinstien, 155.12; Irene and Anthony Toogood, 139.44; and Jim Loffree, 138.94. Ken Meier is #183 with 44.43, just like on the Ace of Clubs list, and Allen Beroza is still #210 with 41.89. And this list also ends at 26.53. 

Mini-McKenney. Nationwide. All Players.

Judy Rothstein rules here, too. And all she needs is her 261.95 Ace of Clubs points. Last year’s champ Mark Itabashi of Murrieta, Calif., who is in the teens in the Ace of Clubs, is second here with 232.31. Irva Neyhart of Portland, Ore., comes next with 231.82.

Then we encounter Piotr Olszewski with his 214.12 club points. After that, it’s pretty much names we’ve seen before – Stephen Cooper, 208.42; Stephen Gladyszak, 206.86; Sundaresan Ram, 202.26 – wait, here’s a new one,  Craig Allen of Glen Ellyn, Ill., 197.66. Rounding out the list are Milton Neher of Richardson, Texas, 195.96, and Peter Boyd-Bowman of Greensboro, N.C., 195.13.

The Weltes are tied for #15 with their 183.58. The player at the bottom of the list of 500 has 69.21 points.