Top 100 - Year End 2017

Year 2017 is safely tucked behind us! Now is the time to celebrate Minnesotans who have made it into the top 100 masterpoint holders as of December 31, 2017.

Our top ten players at 2017's year end are:

 

    1.  Peggy Kaplan          15856.87         442.94
    2. Terry Beckman          12083.71         720.73
    3. Sharon Anderson      12036.39         990.64
    4. John Koch                 11263.39         686.73
    5. Peder Langsetmo      10357.63          70.64
    6. Paul Meerschaert        9853.68        617.80
    7. Jack Rhatigan             9591.85            6.21
    8. Bob Balderson Jr        9342.59        165.89
    9. Steven Gaynor            9169.45        429.20
  10. Cynthia Balderson      9144.62         236.21

 
Currently, we have five Minnesotans who have reached over 10,000 points. Unfortunately, we lost another - a most treasured member of this group - who had also gone over 10,000:  Larry Oakey.

But much to celebrate! This year, ACBL sent us not only a list of total points, but of points earned in 2017. Sharon Anderson had a super run!  Her 990.64 was fewer than 10 points shy of 1,000!  Very well done, Sharon.

Other notable hefty totals were earned by Roger Anderson, Terry Beckman, John Koch, Bjorgvin Kristinsson and Paul Meerschaert. Note that Paul is getting every closer to that 10K range; we fully expect to be reporting that he "goes over" in 2018.

We congratulate our top ten, and all the other top 100 masterpoint holders in our state, with the full list below. 

Yet please remember. Fun as they are to win and collect, masterpoints are only a rough gauge of ability and achievement. Players have different commitments:  family, jobs, volunteering, etc. - pocketbooks, time, health issues and so on and so forth. Some of us have smaller masterpoint totals - yet nevertheless are real toughies at the table!

In the meantime, however, please join me in celebrating the accomplishments of our Top 100!  And here is to all of us having a fun 2018, filled with great bridge, friendships and adventure!

Download Top 100 MN Year End 2017 

Comments

[John Crouch]

How is it determined that one has the requisite current nexus with the State of Minnesota to be listed in the Top 100?
In this regard, I notice that Surya Shaw, who I believe is resident in Florida, is on the list.

[Peg]

John, ACBL allows someone who is a member of a unit to stay there forever. So yes, although Surya Shaw has lived in Florida for some time, she can elect to still be a member of one of our units.

ACBL rules; not mine!

[John Crouch]

Hello Peggy:

The list could be what we want it to be. We could have a the Top 50 Woman and a
50 Men.
We can also have a list of the Top 100 players who reside in Minnesota. I think that such would serves better our Minnesota bridge community than a list that focuses on those
who resided in Minnesota when they joined the ACBL.
Congratulations on being on the top of these for many consecutive years.

[Peg]

Hi John -

Thank you for your comments.

Since our list consists of our 103 and 178 members, we really must list the top 100 masterpoint holders for each year as they are. I would commend talking to the ACBL about their policy; it is the League that makes the rules. (And, by the way, I agree with you that people who are listed with a certain unit should live in that geographical area for at least some period of the year!)

I do not generate the lists; ACBL does. I do make sure that people are indeed members of our units, and that they are still with us and have not passed on. Otherwise - if you've earned it, you are there!

And - thank you for your kind comment, too, John. My good fortune to have been blessed with such stupendous partners AND teammates over the years!