Blum on Bridge Tales from the World of Bridge
	Bridge players from all parts of the United States and Canada, plus some from countries as far away as Russia and Poland, converged on Marco Island from Monday, Oct. 5, through the following Sunday. They came because over the past six years our Regional has become one of the premier events on the annual ACBL calendar. Once again co-chairman Peg DuBois of Naples contributed her time and energy to make this year's tournament one to remember. In addition to the daily games, Peg and her co-chairman Betty Plappert, under the tutelage of Florida Unit 128 Director Jayne Thomas, provided entertainment for all participants. Tuesday the Radisson, our host hotel, invited all for wine and cheese following the afternoon game. Friday the Unit held its for-free traditional dinner consisting of turkey roast beef, Caesar salad, veggy and fruit platters. During the Sunday Swiss Teams, subsidized hot dogs and half-sandwiches were sold for only 50 cents each and every day all day free orange juice and coffee flowed. Publix showed their continued support by donating over 20 cans of coffee for the week. Also because of the 1,800 tables for the week there would never have been enough room had the Hilton Hotel next door not contributed additional ballroom space and provided for the parking overflow. Because of the Hilton's cooperation there was plenty of space for table play. The afternoon games were preceded by lectures for the intermediates and novices by nationally known experts including Shannon Lipscomb, the leading junior lady in the country, and Jerry Helms, an outstanding professional from Charlotte, N.C. Not only did our Marco Island, Naples, Bonita group attend the tournament in great numbers, but they were the heroes and heroines of the week. Their presence was felt from opening day right through Sunday, the final day. Joy Miller and her husband, Ron Schick, led the parade winning close to 70 masterpoints each as they garnered runner-up spots in the Open Pairs and Stratified Swiss Teams playing with teammates Sudhakar Bhatt and Gordon Walker of Naples. They also managed a third- and fourth-place tie in the top bracket of the Morning Knockouts playing with teammates Bhatt and Angela Kaiser of Naples. Jim Hostetler and partner Dorothy Coakley teamed with out-of-town friends of Dorothy and won the Friday two sessions Open Swiss Teams. The same foursome placed third in the final team event Sunday and garnered a third- and fourth-place tie in a mid-week Knockout. Our gang that played in team events was exceptional. Marco Islanders Muriel Seegers and Lee Heifetz teamed with Neapolitans Bill and Bunny Horne to come in second in Bracket II of the Tuesday KO's. They had an instant replay, coming in second on Wednesday in the Senior Swiss with new teammates Myron and Mary Sauer. Fred Rathgeber, president of the Naples Bridge Center, captained a team of Herb Darmstadter, Dwight Searcy and Gordon Walker to tie for third behind Seegers on Tuesday. Bracket IV KO winners Tuesday were Joy Curtis, Roger Hill, Sugar Rubin and Suzie Fess followed by neighbors Anna Bledsoe, Gayle Nykamp, Judy Friedman and Marco Islander Jeanne McCarthy. Bracket V second place went to teammates Irene Powers of Bonita and Naples players Eileen Tortorice, Mary Loftus and Mary Daniels. To cap off a great day for locals, Lynn Janko, Ruth Farrar, Rusty Ruff and Edith Ferber won Bracket VI. Other notables scoring Wednesday were Bob Parlin, Virginia Stockel, Joe Moriarty, and Elizabeth Magrane coming in second in the Flt. "B" Swiss. Tied for first and second in Flt. "C" were teammates Stan Margolis, Joan Stien and Madeline Timpane. Thursday, islanders Dotsy Bywater and Evelyn McDowell placed second in Flt. "C" of the Stratified Open Pairs. Third in "B" were Marion Eaton & Suzie Fess. In a one session Continuous pairs Jeanne McCarthy again had her name in lights, as she placed second. Friday, Betty Born of Naples and Mary Darlington, director of our Marco Monday game, were first in Flt. "B" of the Senior Swiss. Barbara and Leslie Brown won Flt. "C". Marietta Huggard and Tom Schneider took the afternoon Continuous Pairs. Gloria Weissman and Joan O'Connell of Bonita placed second in the evening Continuous. The second morning KO's produced more stars. Lynn Janko took her second first place, this time in Bracket IV playing with Zelda Weiss, Suzie Williamson and Harold Feuser. Joyce Makely, Jim Goldin with Lola and Gene Roberts placed second. Saturday, Audrey O'Conner and Claire Miller were second in the Stratified Seniors. Peter O'Toole and partner Doug Carlson playing with out-of-towners won the Bracket II KO's. Tied for third and fourth in Bracket III were partners Kent McWherter and Alice Van Hoesen who teamed with Dorothy and Gene Williams. As for your columnist, he was dragged kicking and screaming across the finish line by 32-year-old Mike Cappalletti of Red Bank, Tenn., winning the Tuesday Open pairs, tying for second in the Wednesday board of match, and placing third in Saturday's Open Pairs. Congratulations to Anna Bledsoe and John Blashill who became Lifemasters at the Regional.