The oldest shuffler competed against the youngest shuffler in the first round of the California Shuffleboard Association’s District 5 Men’s & Women’s Singles Tournament hosted by the TriPalm Shuffleboard Club in Thousand Palms, CA December 3 – 5, 2024. Ninety-eight-year-old TriPalm shuffler, Coley Aldrich, won the game against 27-year-old Matt Durkton from The Canyon Shuffleboard Club. Not only did Coley win that game, he continued to win throughout the tournament and shuffled away with the 3rd place pin and money in the Men’s Championship Division.
Thirty-six men and 22 women competed under blue skies and 80+ degree weather for money awards, pins and the chance to have their name engraved on either the Men’s or Women’s Traveling Trophy. Thanks to the many TriPalm volunteers and District 5 volunteer referees and scorekeepers, this first tournament of District 5’s tournament season was deemed a success. Because this is the inaugural tournament of the season, it’s like a homecoming as the shufflers renew acquaintances and are so excited to see one another and who is back shuffling for the season.
Congratulations to:
Women’s Championship Division
- Gail Aslin, TriPalm
- Nancy Grieve, Indian Wells
- Linda Nielsen, Desert Crest
- Maureen Bernard, TriPalm
Men’s Championship Division
- Ray Hall, Palm Desert Greens
- Mick Guyette, The Canyon
- Coley Aldrich, TriPalm
- Roland Marohn, Royal Palms
Women’s Consolation Division
- Terri Manley, Indian Wells
- Sharon Brown, Ramon
- Yvonne Moore, TriPalm
- Dora Olea, TriPalm
Men’s Consolation Division
- Dick Seburn, The Canyon
- Ken Bodmer, The Canyon
- Fred Hayes, Desert Crest
- Lyle Bremner, Royal Palms
The next tournament these District 5 shufflers will have the chance to compete in is The Gene Eager Memorial Singles Tournament hosted by District 5 for District 5 and 7 shufflers. This tournament will be held January 3 – 6, 2025, at the Tramview Shuffleboard courts in Cathedral City.
-Shirley Eager
California Shuffleboard Association 
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