Robert Smothers Captures First, Second At Golf Croquet Tournament

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Published on February 27 2024 12:01 pm
Last Updated on February 27 2024 12:01 pm
Written by Millie Lange

Robert Smothers captured first place in doubles and second place in singles in the First Flight of the National United States Golf Croquet Tournament at The Mission Hills Country Club  Rancho Mirage, CA.

An Effingham native, Smothers and his doubles partner Shep Slater from Atlanta, GA, captured the First Flight Championship of the United States Croquet Association’s (USCA) Doubles Golf Croquet Tournament. Smothers and Slater were seeded third going into the tournament. 

Smothers and Slater qualified for the National Tournament last September, capturing first place in the Southeast Regional Tournament in Belvidere, NC.

Smothers and Slater won five and lost two games in the block play, placing them as the No. 2 seed, going into the knockout round bracket. On Tuesday and Wednesday, they swept through six straight matches to capture the 2024 National Doubles Golf Croquet  Champions title in First Flight.

On Thursday, Smothers posted a record 6-1 in singles competition. That record placed him in second seed going  into the final round. Smothers then navigated his way to win seven straight games. That play included a highly contested 7-6 win over his doubles partner, Slater, in the semi-final round. 

Smothers then faced Steve Jackson of Kansas City, MO. In the final game, Smothers fell to a red-hot Jackson by a score of 7-3, giving Smothers a second-place finish in the First Flight Singles Golf National Championship game. Overall, Smothers competed in 28 games throughout the week, winning 24.