Minnesota Bridge

Alert! Autumn Harvest Sectional - Change of Venue

 

Due to circumstances Beyond Our Control, the hotel where the Autumn Harvest Sectional was originally scheduled can no longer accommodate the tournament.

Instead, the sectional, which runs from Thursday, November 2nd through Saturday, November 4th, will have a new venue at the Oak Marsh Golf Club, 526 Inwood Avenue North in Oakdale.

A round of applause for Kerry Holloway and other volunteers who scurried to find an excellent alternative spot last minute. Due to their hard work, we're sure that now the tourney will be even better!  We look forward to a fine turnout during November's sectional!

The new flyer is below and at the tournament sidebar on the left.

Happy Birthday, Kim!

 

Bridge is THE greatest mind game ever! And - it is also about our wonderful community of people!

Yesterday was director AND competitor Kim Hayward's birthday - Happy Birthday, Kim!

Kim was able to celebrate in St. Paul by both directing and playing.  Congrats to Kim and her partner for earning 1.77 silver points!

AND...... how about this yummy and beautiful cake?  

 

Here's to our game and appreciating our great members, too!

 

 

IMP Competition!

 

Many world class players believe that team play (IMP scoring) is the finest test of a player's mettle. 

Unfortunately, however, too many places in ACBL-land today have few to no team play left.

The MGSC Club would like to change that trajectory!

Mike Cassel (the fellow reaching for a board during the Spingold at this summer's NABC - one of the most impressive team games around) has worked to set up an excellent opportunity for Flight B and C players to learn and enjoy IMP competition.

The details are below; please consider taking advantage of these IMP games!

Gold in EVERY Way!

 

Some people in our bridge community are excellent players. Some are devoted volunteers. Others are great friends to many.

Patti Stuhlman is all of the above!

Our District 14 Director, Sharon Anderson, sent congratulations to Patti upon reaching Gold Life Master status. A fine achievement, and one to add to Patti's long history of accomplishment at the table and in virtually every aspect of bridge in Minnesota. Patti has long been following in the path of her mom, Nelsine, who masterfully managed our Gopher Regionals and other tournaments for decades. Yet Patti also excels at the table. In 2004, Patti's team placed 2nd in ACBL's Grand National Teams Flight B!

We are so fortunate to have Patti in our bridge world. Congrats, Patti - and - thank you for sharing your bridge history with us - along with all the rest of your talents!

 

Thanks Sharon for the note of congratulations for becoming a Gold Life Master. 

I have so many people to thank for my bridge achievements.  First, my mom – she got me the job of caddying at tournaments when I was 13.  I worked for Reine Sewald, Dorothy Buchanan and my mom at Regionals and Sectionals and knew wonderful Directors:  Dale Egholm, Paul Stahley, Phil Woods, Chris Patrias, Mike Flader and Peter Wilke to name but a few.  

I really didn’t start playing until I was in college.  I saw too many bridge “bums” who didn’t finish college because they were in Coffman Union playing bridge. I read:  Five Weeks to Winning Bridge by Alfred Sheinwold and Play of the Hand by Louis Watson.  Joyce Dodson (Miller Anderson) took me under her wing and encouraged me. Howard Weinstein gave me many of his books when he moved to Chicago. 

I played with Kerry Holloway, Joyce, Cindy Balderson, Dave Skillingstad, Tom Holzer, Jonathan Cohen, Mark Krusemeyer, and lately, Scott Hiller, Sharon Anderson, Sharon Christenson, Glenna Shannahan and now my mom, Nelsine Christensen.  I have so many great memories of bridge tournaments and going to Nationals with Mark, Jonathan and Charlie Nauen. 

It’s a great game and I have wonderful lifelong friendships as a result of playing bridge.

        Patti

Rochester 0-500 NLM Tournament Results

 

Just about all bridge players enjoy competing in tournaments and earning masterpoints. Non-Life Masters are no exception!

Here are the results from the September 16th two session tournament in Rochester. Remember that one day, some of these competitors will no longer be eligible for this fun event!  But - they will graduate to others!

Our thanks to Director and Tournament Chair, Dr Donna Lombardini, guest speaker Jade Barrett and partnership chair John Ryder.

Well done, all!

Jon Weinberg - 1934-2017

 

With great sadness, our community has lost another of our long time members. Dr. Jon Weinberg passed away on Tuesday, September 12th. We remember Jon competing with and against friends for many years, in addition to having a distinguished career and fine family.

Jon's son, Scott Weinberg, kindly sent us an obituary about his father. You can read the remembrance below, along with information about an upcoming Celebration of Life for Jon, and memorial donations.

 

 

Scott also shared the photo of his dad above, as he and Jon enjoyed a Twins game.

Our condolences to Scott and all the rest of Jon's family. And we will miss seeing Jon at the table.

Rochester Chat Bridge in the News!

 

We know that Minnesota is the happiest state in the nation. 

Is it our love of bridge that contributes to that?!

Great article about Chat Bridge in Rochester - and how players there feel about our game!

(Thanks to Greg Caucutt for the article!)

Youth WILL Be Served!

 

Last Friday was the first night of play for the 2017-2018 season of the Minneapolis Grand Slam Club. Lots of "regulars" came out to compete.

Of course, great to see familiar faces and long time competitors at the MGSC. Yet also a great treat to see some new - and younger - faces, too!

Sean McNally and Morgan Johnstone, students who participated at Dean Matthew Bribitzer-Stull's Honors Bridge class last semester, were in attendance, battling away. From the look of their broad smiles above, it appears they had a fine time!  We sure hope that they - and others - return throughout the season.

Check out the MGSC's web page. This coming Friday is "Win-An-Entry." Perhaps it shall be YOU!

Paul Bunyan Tournament - Sept 8-10

The Paul Bunyan Sectional starts this coming Friday! Kick off the beginnings of fall with a beautiful drive to Duluth and then great bridge!

The schedule is here.

Enjoy Minnesota's autumn beauty with your favorite partners and teammates!

Minnesota's Newest Diamond Life Master: Greg Caucutt!

 

Long time partner Genny Rice and Greg Caucutt

Minnesota is proud to announce a new title for a fine player.  Rochester's Greg Caucutt just earned Diamond Life Master designation!

Greg's happy entry to Diamond Life Master status (5000 masterpoints) happened at an August club game. Genny Rice, Greg's long time partner, aided and abetted Greg achieving the necessary points. 

Party goers celebrate Greg's new title!

 

To celebrate the achievement, the Rochester Club threw a happy hour following the August 30th game.

For many years, Greg has been a mainstay of the Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club. Teacher, mini-lesson presenter, lead director, dealer, partner - and friend to many, including Sue Greenberg.  (Sue kindly sent us all this information about Greg's exciting news!)

Greg is always willing to help, advise and encourage players in the Rochester Club. And at the table himself? A winner! Greg's competitive spirit and technical skills, combined with fine teammates Carol Cummings, Pat Burrows and Dave Hoffman all contributed to a big win with the Jim Hall Knockout at the 2016 Gopher Regional.

Greg and Layne Vinje, Rochester President

We all applaud Greg, Diamond Life Master - and send him big thanks for his many contributions to bridge in Minnesota!