North Carolina State Open

 held at Europa Hotel in Chapel Hill, NC  - July 4-6, 1985

ACF Bulletin # 196 - August, 1985 reported...  North Carolina  "Yankees Invade the South!"  Norm Wexler, N.Y., won the North Carolina Open held July 4-6 in Chapel Hill.  Next were Gene Zuber and Ed Bruch.  Fourth, and the 1985 State Champion was Elbert Lowder of Sanford, NC, followed by John Webster, Eugene Winter, Jerry Ingram, and Tim Laverty.  In Class B, James Heffner and J.C. Little tied in both match and honor points, then followed Raleigh Johnson, Frank Walls, Joe McClellan, (tie) Bernard Ross - Dennis Cayton, and Merle Vaughan.  There were 48 entrants overall, with $1,600 paid in prizes.  Major contributors at $250 each were Ed Scheidt, John Webster, Elbert Lowder, and Clint Pickard.  This was the strongest field for any North Carolina Open since it began in 1969.  North Carolina State Tournaments were closed to only state residences until 1969 when the tourney was opened to all checker players.

Ed Scheidt & Clint Pickard were the Sponsors/Directors of this tournament.  Ed Scheidt arranged the Europa Hotel, one of the country's finest as the tournament venue through his contacts.  A special rate of $45 per room is less than half their usual rate.  Reservations should be made two weeks in advance, indicating your attendance at the checker tourney - phone 919-968-4900.  Tourney registration starts at 9 a.m., and play at 10 a.m.  There will be 7 rounds of Swiss play, with a $500 first prize guaranteed.  Contact: Ed Scheidt, 3209 Carol Woods, Chapel Hill, 27515, phone 919-967-9189.   Europa Hotel was renamed Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel and a multi-million dollar renovation, but their address is One Europa Drive, Chapel Hill, NC.  

North Carolina State Champions