The inaugural 2025 North American Open Golf Croquet Championship was conducted on Oct. 9-12 at the prestigious Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club in Hartfield.
The tournament attracted a competitive group of 33 players from various regions across North America, ranging from Florida to Maine. Many attendees extended their visit to enjoy the rural coastal lifestyle and explore notable historic sites, including Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg.
Doubles competition
The event began with two days focused on doubles play, featuring a semi-social format that serves as a warm-up for more intense competition. Sixteen teams participated in a round-robin on Thursday, with all advancing to Friday’s playoffs. Teams eliminated in the first round competed in the Doubles Plate.
By Friday evening, champions and finalists were determined. Marc and Mary Carol Stearns from Ponte Vedra, Fla., claimed victory in the Championship Flight Doubles Plate after a spirited match against Heather and John Welch of Sandwich, Mass. Nancy Crouch and Macey White from Chesapeake Bay emerged as the Doubles Champions, winning a dramatic 7-6 tiebreaker against Mike Hoggatt of Bonita Bay, Fla., and Karl Heinz-Kempfer of Pasadena, Calif. With this win, Nancy Crouch and Macey White became the first players to have their names engraved on the permanent event trophy.
Singles playoff adjustment
Due to severe weather threatening the Sunday finals, Tournament Director Macey White and senior players opted to reschedule the singles playoff to Saturday. The round-robin was canceled, and player seedings for the singles playoff were based on D Grade rankings. All singles participants advanced to the knockout stage, with the top 16 players competing in the championship playoff and the remainder in the first flight playoff. First-round doubles playoff losers entered the championship and first flight plates.
First flight singles results
In the first flight singles, Wayne Maloney from Chesapeake Bay prevailed over St. John’s graduate Matt Butler in the first flight plate. Tournament newcomer David Phillips from Celebration, Fla., marked his debut with a victory over Heather Welch securing his name on the permanent trophy as the first flight winner.
Championship flight singles results
In the championship flight singles plate, Chesapeake Bay’s Penn Pendleton and John Woods competed in a close contest, with Penn clinching the win via a decisive jump shot in the tiebreaker. For the main event, Mike Hoggatt overcame his doubles partner, Karl Heinz-Kempfer, earning the title of 2025 North American Open Singles Champion, and having his name engraved on the trophy.
The Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club
1860 Twiggs Ferry Road, Hartfield, VA
The club offers free lessons and game play to the general public every Sunday at 1 p.m. The club also has an introductory membership that costs $50 for an entire family for one year.
Info: MaceyWhite@gmail.com
