* 12/9/02 
                               2002 U.S. Open (4-Dec -- 8-Dec) 
                               Results/Finals -- Rory Kelley 


                      A great day for a croquet finals in Palm Springs, 
                      California.
                      Plate Finals:  Jim Butts bt. Arthur Bagby +10 in a 
                      single game contest.
                      Low "B" Handicap had Bob Riddle of the Mission Hills
                      Croquet Club besting Len Lyon of the Indian Ridge 
                      Croquet Club + 4.
                      Finals in the Best of three Championship had Richard 
                      Powell against Rich Lamm.
                      Rich took control of the first game and won 26/8 ,
                      with the second game looking like Rich was going to 
                      dominate. Rich took nine with his first ball with Powell
                      hitting in.  Powell took nine and Rich made a hit in,
                      only to stuff #2 hoop.  Powell had an easy break and 
                      and did not work on a triple.  Lamm missed the hit, and 
                      Powell finished.
                      The third game had Lamm take nine, then Powell took nine
                      Lamm hit and rushed to #1 hoop and left himself a very 
                      very wide angle hoop shot.  After looking at his 
                      situation for a while, Rich took the shot and woke up 
                      the crowd.  What a hit...what a burger.
                      Rich had a good break going and was working on his 
                      triple.
                      Lamm had to straight peel his last hoop, and found his  
                      peeled ball only seven inches beyond the hoop with his 
                      live ball five inches in front.  Rich made his jump shot
                      but hit his partner ball while exiting the hoop. Lamm 
                      did
                      a reasonably good job of spreading the opponents balls 
                      out on the court, however he did try and peg both balls 
                      out.  Rich elected to throw the dice and hope Powell 
                      would not hit his ball sitting next to the peg, pegging 
                      out yellow only.    Unfortunately for Powell ( RP )  he 
                      missed, and the game went to Lamm on an easy peg out.
                      RP played extremely well as did the 2002 US Open 
                      Champion Rich Lamm.  Other top finishers in the 
                      Championship flight.
                      1st  Rich Lamm      11-3
                      2nd  RP Powell      12-4
                      3rd  Britt Ruby      8-4
                      4th  Ren Kraft      10-2
                      5th  Rory Kelley     9-3
                      5th  Johnny Mitchell 7-4
                      Tied for 7th: Charlie Smith; Cameron Guernsey; Roy Gee
                      and Russell Uhler