Mar-a-Lago Doubles Invitational Won by Zoe deRopp and Gwynneth Selinger

15-17 February 2008
Mar-a-Lago Club, Palm Beach, FL
by John Osborn, Director of Croquet

The Mar-a-Lago Doubles Invitational was completed today under sunny skies. Upon two of the most beautiful lawns in the world, 24 participants competed within two Flights. Matches were timed at one hour and fifteen minutes and there was no double banking. USCA Rules were in effect throughout except for the famous Local Rule #1: unlimited mulligans at wicket number one! The format for the event was Waterford Doubles, six players amongst the 12 in each Flight moving to the Playoffs and assigned permanent partners.

In the Championship Flight, Zoe deRopp and Gwynneth Selinger, the number one and two seeds after block play, overcame Joe Knoll and Beth Ann Theiste in a thrilling 11-10 Final. Sandra Reiss and John Joseph worked their way into Third Place.

In the First Flight, Isabel Jordan and Robin Wagner took four overtimes to reach the Finals (12-11) with a hard fought victory over Susan Zipper and Jim Gunther. Their luck would soon run out, with the hard-hitting Joan Roman and the casual Lee Little sneaking their way into a 16-14 Final’s victory.

Great sportsmanship, hospitality and five-star food, along with the beautiful setting at Mar-a-Lago, highlighted what is always one of the primer events of the Palm Beach season. Donald Trump and the Mar-a-Lago Club congratulate all of the participants and look forward to the Singles Invitational coming but a month from now.

Until then, below is the Final Order of Finish: