Western Conference Sectional
Tournaments At Clubs (STAC) Report

By Bonnie Bagley
Western Conference President

The three Western Conference STACs continue to be the largest sectional tournaments in ACBL. The May Spring STAC had 8,189 tables in play, the August Summer STAC, 7,633 tables, and the December Holiday STAC, 8,494 for a total of 24,316 tables. Our 2012 STACs averaged an amazing 10,518 players each, and awarded a total of 62,588.11 silver masterpoints. Wow!
Mark Itabashi continues to be the top masterpoint holder in WC STACs. Mark has placed in the top three in twelve of the eighteen STACs (2007-2012). He has amassed 534.40 masterpoints in the WC STACs. Mark is proficient in other STACs as well, having been the top masterpoint winner in the March D22/D23 STAC.
Mary Jackson, who was first in the 2010 August Summer Fun STAC, and repeated her first place in December, 2012, joins David Zapatka (1st - May, 2008, 2nd - August, 2008 & 1st - December, 2009) as the only players other then Mark to have more then one top-three placing.
The top point winners in the three 2012 WC STACs were:

                      May Spring Fling STAC
1. Dennis Nelson D18.................................... 44.86
2. Gary Massey D17...................................... 37.31
3. Rich Hill D21..............................................28.85

                      August Summer Fun STAC
1. Mark Itabashi D22.................................... 46.10
2. Ron Fischer D17........................................39.86
3. Steven Love D22....................................... 39.81

                      December Holiday STAC
1. Mary Jackson D17.................................... 41.52
2. Bob Bradish D22.......................................32.62
3. Marie Ashton  D20.................................... 30.21

Our WC STACs are popular because  players love the opportunity to compete against other WC districts. as well as  players from outside participating districts (D18, D19, D20 & D23), in the comfort of their local clubs. Imagine the thrill of being first in a 719 table game, as did Steven and Ann Erickson of Colorado Springs in the May, 2012 Monday afternoon game, the largest 2012 game.
Director Bill Michael and board member Teri Atkinson are contributing factors of the WC STAC successes. Bill Michael, who replaced Betty Bratcher, now has a full year under his belt as the WC STAC DIC, and is doing a wonderful job. It is difficult to follow one as beloved as Betty. Teri Atkinson continues to be our collections bulldog, and does a fantastic job.
At the WC board meeting, January 9 in Monterey, the board approved the WC STAC Conditions of Contest. Go to thewesternconference.com/STAC to view the CoCs, and find links to ACBL for instructions to register for the May, 2013 STAC.