Approximately 100 shufflers are qualified to play in the District 5 Tournament of Champions. To qualify for a 5-year invitation, the player must have placed in the Singles or Any Doubles Tournaments, either in the Championship or Consolation Divisions. The Champions of each Tournament of Champions division get a lifetime invitation to participate in the Tournament of Champions – this is on the bucket list of the majority of District 5 shufflers.

            At the March 5 – 7 Tournament of Champions hosted by Desert Crest Shuffleboard Club at Desert Hot Springs, 43 men and 25 women vied for the coveted Eagle trophies. Trophies are awarded first through fourth in both the Men’s Division and the Women’s Division. The Champion in each division also has their name engraved on the traveling trophies and receive a special TOC winner’s pin. All participants in the tournament receive a TOC participation pin with the year engraved. Many of the players have pins nearly surrounding the whole collar of their team shirts.

            John & Linda Nielsen, new to managing this tournament, did a fantastic job in organizing and making sure all the players were well informed of their play times. This bittersweet tournament…. Everyone looks forward to playing in it, but it signifies the end of District 5’s season so there are a lot of “goodbyes and we hope to see you next season”.

                        2018 Women’s Division Winners l-r: Champion – Val McDougall, Desert Crest; 2^nd – Linda Nielsen, Desert Crest; 3^rd – Claudine Gurney, Royal Palms; & 4^th – Shirley Eager, Indian Wells.

            2018 Men’s Division Winners: Champion – Clare DeBlonde, Royal Palms; 2^nd – John Burnett, Ramon; 3^rd – Allen Sliger, Safari; & 4^th – Mike Bell, Ramon.