2025 USCA GC Seniors/Masters
National Croquet Center
Nov 20-23, 2025
USCA GC Seniors Masters Tournament - Recap
Thursday November 20 - Sunday, November 23, 2025
Here’s to another great edition of the GC Seniors–Masters Tournament! Over four days, 18 Seniors (ages 60–69) and 42 Masters (70+) gave us an outstanding display of talent in these Singles plays.
Thursday and Friday were all about block games. Seniors competed in two flights (Championship and First Flight), each playing 8 games. The Masters field split into three flights, each with two groups, playing 6 games. Players moved to knock-out on Saturday and Sunday (with Plate and Shield consolation games).
Invictus balls (primary, secondary colors), and quadways hoops were used.
A big shoutout to David McCoy and Jane Louise Smith, who stepped in with less than an hour’s notice to fill 2 open spots. Thank you!
Seniors Highlights
First Flight kept us on edge with some truly exciting matches. In Championship Flight, Matt Griffith and Cami Russack entered the knockouts with 7 wins each. In First Flight, Lucia Morales-Halaby and Susan Langston led the pack with 7 and 6 wins.
Several newer players showed impressive skill and determination. Quiet and composed, Lucia Morales-Halaby topped the block leaderboard with precise, steady play—an incredible debut performance for her first tournament.
We also celebrated a milestone: James Welch rang in a birthday and will officially move from Senior to Master next year. Happy birthday, James!
Players knocked out in the first round of KO moved to Shield play: Alex Galasso won in Championship, while Mary Galasso won First Flight.
The semi-finals brought some nail-biting action. In Championship, Matt Griffith and Bill Simmons delivered a beautifully measured match that ended right at the hook, earning Matt a thrilling win. On the other side, James Welch and Mike Hatcher played a thoughtful, strategic game. Across the board, the sportsmanship and camaraderie were outstanding.
Championship Action
The Championship Flight featured some of the country’s top competitors, with many matches going down to the wire (several ending 7–6 or 7–5).
Kent Lovvorn and Mike Hoggart emerged undefeated from block play as the field tightened. We saw everything from lightning-fast victories in under 40 minutes to one unforgettable 40-minute battle over a single hoop—a masterclass in clearing! And thanks to Caryl Firth, “hoop-itis” (or should it be called “hoop-phobia”?) became the phrase of the day .
KO players eliminated in the first round moved to Plate; those eliminated in the second round moved to Shield.
- Championship Plate: A balanced and exciting match between Nancy Rendleman and Bruce Hindin, with Bruce edging it out 7–6 at the hook.
- First Flight Plate: A dramatic start for Britt Bell, who had to forfeit his first game due to a flat tire, but bounced back strong to win the Plate over Dick Rendleman.
- Second Flight Plate: A delightful match between two of the friendliest competitors—Lynn DeVault and Ned Fleming—with Ned taking the win 7–2.
The Championship Finals showcased top-tier play between Kent Lovvorn and Jim Jamison, with Jim securing a 10–7 victory and repeating his win from last year.
In First Flight, Priscilla Flowers and MaryCarol Stearns brought both competitive fire and genuine friendship to the court. After a tight, well-played match, MaryCarol claimed the win 10–6.
In Second Flight, Luke Sand and Curtis Loftin delivered a composed, precise final that was a pleasure to watch.
Full results are available at croquetscores.com.
Congratulations to all the players for a fantastic tournament! Your skill, sportsmanship, and passion made this event truly memorable.
Tournament Director: Franck Meunier
Tournament Manager: Julia Johnston
Tournament Team: Susan Langston, Rick Hayes, Lynda Sudderberg, Adam Peck
Referees: Matt Griffith, Kent Lovvorn, Priscilla Flowers, Marc Stears, Rick Pratt, Franck Meunier
SENIORS
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
01. James Welch
02. Matt Griffith
03. Bill Simmons
03. Mike Hatcher
05. Alex Galasso
05. Conrad Rugart
05. Jodie Rugart
05. Cami Russack
09. Tate Russack
FIRST FLIGHT
01. Lucia Morales-Halaby
02. Glenn McAndrews
03. Mary Hennelly
03. Susan Langston
05. Tom Hennelly
05. Rick Pratt
05. Briggs Stahl
05. Mary Galasso
09. Kim Beaty
MASTERS
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
01. Jim Jamison
02. Kent Lovvorn
03. Bill Trower
03. Mike Hoggatt
05. Marc Stearns
05. Chris Weihs
05. Billie Ray
05. Jose Benjumea
09. James Creasey
09. Nancy Rendleman
09. David Ekstrom
09. Don Eastman
09. Rick Brown
09. Bruce Hindin
FIRST FLIGHT
01. MaryCarol Stearns
02. Priscilla Flowers
03. John Grout
03. David McCoy
05. David Scott
05. Rick Hayes
05. Jane Louise Smith
05. Jeff Morrison
09. Peter Markarian
099. John Dillon
09. Britt Bell
09. Richard Rendleman
09. Caryl Firth
09. Karen Weihs
SECOND FLIGHT
01. Curtis Loftin
02. Luke Sand
03. Jay Carey
03. Janice Sand
05. Violet Frizzell
05. Pam Groh
05. Gregory Presley
05. Glo Ghegan
09. Gay Cinque
09. Lynn DeVault
09. Vita Reinoso
09. Frances Alexakos
09. Ned Fleming
09. Diana Vought