2026 GNT Finals results, March 26 - 28
Article submitted by Martha Meyer
Our 2026 District 7 GNT Finals were held March 26-28 in Columbia, SC. All winning team members qualified to play at the NABC in Minneapolis in July. Each team receives a stipend of $3,200 to represent District 7 at the Nationals. The stipends are funded by our grassroots fundraisers held in each of our clubs. We thank the club directors, Columbia Bridge Club, and all our team members for their support of our Grand National Teams.
Six teams competed in the Championship Flight. The winning team members were Emory Whitaker, Olin Hubert, Robert Fendrick, and Hugh Brown.
Four teams competed in Flight A. It was reported that it was a very close match, coming down to the last few boards. The winning team members were Fran Tewkesbury, Martin Causley, Greg Leblanc, and Andy Hsiao.
Eleven teams competed in Flight B. Since more than eight teams competed, two teams will receive stipends when they participate in the summer NABC. First place went to Holli and Stephen Mast, Steven Hamburg, and Lee Dowell, Jr. Second place went to Diane and Larry Henson, Gil Vinzani, and Robert Dunas. The Hensons recently moved from Minnesota to Raleigh so they will know many players in the Minneapolis bridge community.
There were four teams registered for Flight C. However, one team had to withdraw. Unfortunately (or fortunately) one team player just got his first job. Three teams competed in Flight C. Our winners are Polly Ross, Melanie Mauldin, Melissa Himelein, and Louisa Witten.
We wish all our teams the best of luck when they play in the Nationals this summer!
Peter J. Boyd-Bowman matches
the best at Spring NABC
Article submitted by Fran Tewkesbury
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Congratulations to Peter J. Boyd-Bowman for his second place finish in the Lebhar IMP pairs event at the St. Louis Nationals this spring. Peter and his partner, Jim Johnson of Frisco, Texas, beat out almost 200 of the best partnerships in the world to win 75 platinum points for their achievement. Peter and Jim led the pack in the first two rounds of the event, were in second place after three rounds and finished only slightly behind the winners in the fourth and final round. An amazing record of excellent and consistent play against an extremely strong field.
IMP pairs is a bridge format where scores are compared against a calculated par, or average, result for each board, versus the matchpoint scoring used in local pairs games. The strategy is similar to that of team games, where overtricks are virtually immaterial, doubles on close contracts are risky, minor suit games vs. a more risky no trump contract is no disaster, and bidding vulnerable games is key. Peter has clearly mastered this complicated strategy.
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Other masterpoint winners from Unit 169 are Charles Wilkins, Mark and Martha Meyer, Rich Peffer, Marty Friedman, Dwight Meredith, Fran Tewkesbury, Debbie Monroe, David Hurd and Bob Whaling. The Summer NABC Tournament is scheduled for July 8-19 in Minneapolis.
Louisa Witten wins David Parsons Trophy for 2025
Article submitted by Judy Hellen
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Each year the David Parsons Trophy is awarded to the non-life master who earned the most masterpoints during the calendar year. At the Salisbury Sectional Chris Shepard, Unit 169 VP Membership, presented the trophy to Louisa Witten of Salisbury. She earned 229.67 points during the calendar year. Congratulations, Louisa!
Pictured Louisa, left, and Chris, right.
Salisbury Sectional had a Full House
Article submitted by Judy Hellen
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Some problems are nice to have. Such was the case at the Salisbury Sectional when the attendance for the 499er section surpassed expectations. There was a slight delay to the start of the first Friday session as tables were shuffled into the limited section. Then everything ran smoothly.​
Many thanks to Dick Brisbin, tournament chair, and Louisa Witten, partnership chair, for delivering another great Salisbury Sectional. The tournament drew 130.5 tables compared to 117 last year. The hospitality and food were outstanding. ​
Here are the top ten masterpoint winners from Unit 169:
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Bill Wisdom, Salisbury - 23.24 MPs
Dan Fowler, Salisbury - 21.01
Rhett Inabinet, Winston-Salem - 16.94
John Kimel, Advance - 13.17
Rich Peffer, Greensboro - 11.91
Peter J. Boyd-Bowman, Greensboro - 11.76
Debbie Monroe, Greensboro - 11.76
Dick Brisbin, Salisbury - 9.07
Marty Friedman, Greensboro - 8.94
Bob Hale, Greensboro - 8.83
Toni Iossi, Salisbury - 7.94
Debbie Fowler, Salisbury- 7.94
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We also want to recognize 499ers who earned MPs:
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Donna Hancock, Winston-Salem - 2.29 MPs
John Merschel, Winston-Salem - 2.29
Brenda Ganim, Greensboro - 2.06
Sam Niehans, Jamestown - 2.06
Beverly Brown, Greensboro - .87
Candie Hurley, Summerfield - .87
Congratulations to Bill Wisdom, the overall masterpoint winner at the Salisbury Sectional held February 20-22.
Masterpoint Winners at Hilton Head Low Country Classic
Out of 962 players earning masterpoints, Jim Melville ranked 17th, Peter Boyd-Bowman ranked 40th and Fran Tewkesbury ranked 41st. Congratulations to all the players from our unit who scored masterpoints in the regional held January 26-February 1 in Hilton Head, SC while the rest of us suffered through ice and snow.
Unit 169 members who attained Life Master in 2025
Congratulations to each member who reached the rank of Life Master during 2025. Several of you share the spotlight with your regular partners. Mary Hennie and Pat Macon are also new life masters.
 Trude McCartyTrude McCarty and her dad, Richard Warren |  April ParkerApril Parker, right, with Booboo Watkins |  Paul Fargusson_editedPaul, right, and Alex Georoff |
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 Paul FargussonPaul, left, with Rick Morgan |  Lucy Strawsburg |  Beth Einstein |
Jim Melville is top masterpoint winner in Myrtle Beach.
Article submitted by Judy Hellen
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Jim Melville of Greensboro along with his partner from Wisconsin was the top masterpoint winner in the Myrtle Beach New Year's Regional Tournament. Jim walked away with over 108 MPs. Hat's off to you, Jim.
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Twenty-two other members of Unit 169 also earned points.
Congratulations to Eric Peffer,
Player of the Year 2025
Eric Peffer is the winner of the Tim Stecker Player of the Year contest for 2025. To qualify one must play in at least six unit games. Master points from the unit games are combined with those from our sectional tournaments. Eric played in 8 of the 12 unit games with various partners. At the final game of the year, he was .28 masterpoints shy of Fran Tewkesbury who was also playing. Eric with his partner, Rich Peffer, was able to pull ahead by less than one masterpoint.
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Fran Tewkesbury, yet again, is the runner up. Hang in there, Fran. See the final top ten players here.​
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Congratulations, Eric. And Fran.
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Article submitted by Judy Hellen
Triad Bridge Club Supports Operation Yuletide
From left to right: Barbara Boyd-Bowman, April Parker, Booboo Watkins, Mary Ann Young, Ann Bennett and Mary Morgan.
Article submitted by Candie Hurley
The Triad Bridge Club participated in Operation Yuletide, a project of the Greensboro Police Department, which identifies vulnerable families in our community to provide them with gifts, clothing, and essentials during the holidays. April Parker and Booboo Watkins chaired the club's effort. We adopted two families this year that are both going through tough times.
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The Nelson Family: A resilient single mother raising three daughters (Sharonda, 10; Shadiamond, 14; and Alexis, 17). The family is currently living in a hotel, and the mother is working hard to support her girls who attend Vandalia Elementary, Jackson Middle, and Smith High.
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The Walker Family: This family of five is facing a sudden crisis. Their 9-year-old daughter, Kennedy, was diagnosed with cancer just a few weeks before Christmas. The parents are currently out of work to be by her side at Brenner’s Children’s Hospital, while trying to maintain normalcy for her siblings, Madison (5) and Cayden (11).
April and Boo Boo collected the donations and shopped for over $1700 of gifts while Barbara Boyd-Bowman was in charge of the gift wrapping! Our club raised nearly $5,000 — far beyond any goal we set. That generosity means not only that the Walker and Nelson families will have a brighter, merrier Christmas, but the excess will also go back into the GPD’s general fund to help last-minute families in need and even seed next year’s campaign. Once again, we’ve proven that our community is as strong in spirit as it is at the table!
