2023 TCCC/CCC Invitational

Although the weather was cloudy and cool, many of the croquet games were hotly contested.  The court was in immaculate condition.  To top it off, TCCC reclaimed the Club Championship trophy so it will be coming back to Tega Cay after we had to leave in on Dataw Island in 2022, the last time the event was played.

Don't miss the event details after the photos.

Jim Podraza and Judy Murray from the Sun City Croquet Club and five players from the Dataw Island Croquet Club, Luke and Janice Sand, Dean Hewitt, Susan Hertz & Ray Barrett, made the trip to represent the Coastal Croquet Clubs.  

On Thursday thirteen TCCC players joined the visitors for a full day of games, starting at 9:00 and finishing up at 4:20.  We provided coffee in the morning, lunch in the gazebo, and topped it off with a Wine & Cheese social hour at the end of the day. 

Everyone played five games with a different partner and a different opposing team in each game.  The number of wins, ties and wickets scored were totaled for each player. By matching up the totals, ten teams were formed to compete in the elimination round on Friday. The teams were: 

Jim Podraza / Frank Powell 
Dean Hewitt / Alan Bensch 
Janice Sand / Peggy Towner 
Luke Sand / Don Rothman 
Marvin Bennett / Nick Rizos
Judy Murray / Peter Maroosis 
Ray Barrett / Terry Hunt 
Betty Anderson / Hilda Swainey 
Susan Hertz / Dee Harned
Barb Powell / Bob Harned

Friday featured the elimination rounds and in the semi-final round Dean Hewitt & Alan Bensch lost to Jim Podraza & Frank Powell  (7-1) and Terry Hunt and Ray Barrett beat Dee Harned & Susan Hertz (5-2).  

The final match, played without a time limit, pitted Jim Podraza & Frank Powell against Terry Hunt and Ray Barrett.  It was a an exciting and well played game that ended with a final score of 7 to 6, Jim & Frank won the game and took the first-place trophies.

It was a tournament full of good times, great food, fabulous croquet, new and old friendships.