2026 WGCA Women's GC Doubles Open
October 12-14, 2026
Albemarle Croquet Club, Belvidere NC
Davidoff and Bromley Clinch WGCA
Women’s GC Doubles Title with Undefeated Run
Ellie Griffith (left) with 2026 Champions Debbie Davidoff and Cheryl Bromley, and MaryCarol Stearns
Twenty-eight women teamed up for the 2nd Annual WGCA Women’s GC Doubles Open held at the Albemarle Croquet Club in Belvidere, North Carolina Oct. 12 - 14.
Each team played six matches in block play, with the top four teams from each block advancing to the Championship KnockoutandtheremainingteamscompetingintheFirstFlightKnockout.
In Championship KO action, strong performances by Susan Langston and Jane Louise Smith, along with Janet Anthos and Amy Hempt, propelled both teams into the semifinals, where they faced the top-seeded pairings of Cheryl Bromley and Debbie Davidoff and Ellie Griffith and MaryCarol Stearns.
Bromley and Davidoff steadily kept things in check with a convincing 10-2 win over Langston and Smith to move into the Final.
The other semifinal proved to be a much tighter contest. After playing through regulation time, and with just two shots remaining for each player in extended play, Anthos and Hempt edged past Griffith and Stearns 6–5 in a nail-biting finish. The victory secured their spot in the Championship match.
In the final match of the tournament, Bromley and Davidoff displayed more of their world-class shotmaking including spectacular jump shots and a pair of phenomenal cross-court clearing shots from over 80 feet away by Davidoff. Their 10-4 victory over Anthos and Hempt sealed the Championship title and capped an impressive undefeated run throughout the event.
In First Flight action, Lillian Carter and Patti Malpass earned a hard-fought 4–3 semifinal victory over Polly Joa and Caroline Robison. With time expired on the clock, Carter and Malpass came away with the narrow win to secure their place in the final.
In the other semifinal, Lisa Maloney and Jill Murphy rebounded from a challenging series in block-play to defeat rookie team and fan favorites Nicky Donnelly and Grace Gescheidle, 7–4. This was followed up with a dominant performance against Cindy Joa and Mary Miech to advance to the title match against Carter and Malpass.
Maloney and Murphy carried that momentum into the final, coming through with a win to capture the First Flight title and round out an exciting weekend of women’s doubles competition.
We would like to say a very special Thank You to the Lassiter family for their lovely hospitality and
the Albemarle Croquet Club for being the host venue.
Finalists in Championship Flight - Janet Anthos and Amy Hempt
left - right: Grace Gescheidle, Nicky Donnelly, and Caroline Robison
First Flight Finalists Lillian Carter and Patti Malpass
First Flight Champions Lisa Maloney and Jill Murphy
Eight players from the National Croquet Club in West Palm Beach, Florida traveled to North Carolina
to enjoy several days of great croquet and friendship. Pictured left to right, Diane Waterfall, Susan Langston,
Jane Louise Smith, Polly Joa, Caryl Firth, Jane Grandusky, Priscilla Flowers, and Caroline Robison
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
| 01. |
Cheryl Bromley & Debbie Davidoff |
| 02. |
Amy Hempt & Janet Anthos |
| 03. |
Ellie Griffith & MaryCarol Stearns |
| 03. |
Susan Langston & Jane Louise Smith |
| 05. |
Helen Covington & Chris Eaton |
| 06. |
Diane Waterfall & Jane Grandusky |
| 07. |
Priscilla Flowers & Caryl Firth |
| 07. |
Sue Emond & Alice Scanlon |
FIRST FLIGHT
| 01. |
Lisa Maloney & Jill Murphy |
| 02. |
Patti Malpass & Lillian Carter |
| 03. |
Caroline Robinson & Polly Joa |
| 04. |
Cindy Joa & Mary Miech |
| 05. |
Nicky Donnelly & Grace Gscheidle |
| 06. |
Maggie Leyes & Julie Hoelle |