Bush League/FMB Turn Around to Win Officer's Cup

The start of the first January 8 Goal Tournament (Jason Memorial) did not go well for the Bush League/Farmers and Merchants Bank entry (Virgil Kyle, Danny Walker 2, Henry Walker 2, Ulysses Escapite 4) as they finished at the bottom.

Of course, the early season can be somewhat difficult as players who haven’t played together become accustomed to each other and horses haven’t reached midseason form. Whatever the reason was for the new combination’s issues, they were mitigated for the second tournament – the USPA Coachella Valley Officer’s Cup.

The final, played on an absolutely perfect afternoon with a temperature of 77 degrees and in front of a large crowd, would feature the rejuvenated group and undefeated Antelope (Geoff Palmer, Grant Palmer, Santiago Trotz 5, Jimmy Wright 3). The pronghorns, however, were the team that Bush League/FMB still had an issue with – the result of a loss in qualifying play.

The Officer’s final started off with good scoring opportunities for both teams but the only goal came off the mallet of Geoff Palmer converting a penalty number two  offering and Antelope was up by one at 1 – 0.

The second was all Bush League/FMB as Danny Walker scored three open goal awards along with a field goal and Escapite counted from the field as well. Trotz got one for the pronghorns and it appeared that the money men might be on their way as they led 5 – 2.

With Trotz masterminding the lineup, Antelope scored three times in the third – Geoff Palmer, Trotz, and Wright) as Bush League/FMB was able to counter with just one – Escapite - and the second period lead was now just one at 6 – 5 going to the half.

Antelope drew even in the fourth as Trotz counted a field goal to tie the count at six with no reply from the financiers. It appeared that the undefeated Palmer group could very well stay that way – not.

Whatever was said in the Bush League/FMB huddle between the fourth and fifth chukkers will never be known but to say it worked would be a gross understatement. The orange and white shirts came out and absolutely dominated with four goals – two from the field by Danny Walker, a penalty number one, and an open goal counter by Walker as a result of a perfect set-up – from Escapite - on the free shot from center after the number one call. Going to the final period Bush League/FMB led by four 10 – 6.

Sensing a victory – and a halt to the Antelope winning streak - the leaders did not slow down as enormous pressure allowed Walker to convert another open goal chance and Escapite counted  from the field to now lead by six. As if it mattered, Wright scored for Antelope to come within five and it was over at 12 – 7. Bush League/FMB became the champions and at the same time handed Antelope their first loss of 2019.

Because of his very aggressive play and his ability to deliver and set up when needed, Henry Walker was selected as the Most Valuable Player to his team and Martina – owned by and played by Trotz in the fourth – was awarded the Best Playing Pony blanket.

Tony Gregg

USPA Coachella Valley Officer's Cup 8 Goal

LAZY 3 (7)
Louisa Musselman Fikes
Jared Sheldon 4
Peter Blake 3
Audrey Persano

ANTELOPE (8)
Geoff Palmer
Grant Palmer
Santiago Trotz 5
Jim Wright 3 

BUSH LEAGUE/FMB (8)
Virgil Kyle
Dan Walker 2
Henry Walker 2
Ulysses Escapite 4

TWIN PALMS (8)
Chris Maloney 1
Ryan Robertson
Graham Bray 3
Ruben Coscia 4

SCHEDULE
Saturday January 19; Lazy 3 vs Twin Palms, Antelope vs Bush Lg/FMB
Sunday January 20; Antelope vs Lazy 3, Bush Lg/FMB vs Twin Palms
Sunday January 26; Bush Lg/FMB vs Lazy 3, Twin Palms vs Antelope
Sunday January 27; Bush League vs Antelope

STANDINGS
Antelope                  3 0 d Bush Lg/FMB, Lazy 3, Twn Plms
Bush League/FMB   2 1 d Twn Plms, Lazy 3 l Antelope
Lazy 3                      1 2 d Twn Plms   l Antelope, Bush Lg 
Twin Palms               0 3 l Lazy 3, Bush Lg/FMB, Antelope

Coachella Valley Officer's Cup 4 Goal

BRACKET #1

CedarCreek (3)
German Coppel 0
Nicholas Wilhelm -1
Ashton Wolf 3
Conrad Kissling 1

OCEAN AIR/THERMAL (4)
Reg Whyte 0
David Carlson 0
Ernesto Ezcurra 2
Felipe Sordelli 2

PALM DESERT/EXIT CONSULTING GROUP (4)             
Dan Horn 0                                                           
Lamar Rutherford -1
Matthew Walker 2                                                                                                
Rodrigo Salinas 3

BRACKET 2

COTTEREL FARMS (3)
Jennifer Luttrell-Benardoni .5
Francisco Benardoni 1.5
Gabriel Saccullo 1
Angel Jose Rodriguez 0

LUNA POLO (4)
Jennifer Alexy 0
Shannon Mendez -.5
Diego Larregli 3
Santiago Mendez 1.5

SCHEDULE
Saturday January 19; CedarCreek vs Cotterel, Ocean/Thermal vs Luna
Sunday January 20; Palm Dsrt/Exit vs Luna, Cotterel vs Ocean/Thermal  
Saturday January 26; Luna vs CedarCreek, Palm Dsrt/Exit vs Cotterel
Sunday January 27; Final
Bracket #1 - 50% for a win. Bracket #2 - 33% for a win.
Top two teams will play final; Cotterel vs Ocean Air/Thermal

STANDINGS

Ocean Air/Thermal        100% 2 0 d Luna, Cotterel
Cotterel (won Shootout) 66% 2 1 d CdrCrk, Plm Dsrt/Exit  l Ocn Air/Thrml 
Luna Polo                        66 %   2  1   d Plm Dsrt/Exit, CdrDrk l Ocn Air/Thrml
Palm Desert/Exit                          0   2   l Luna, Plm Dsrt/Exit                            
CedarCreek                                  0  2  l Cotterel, Luna

Ocean Air/Thermal Win Second World Gym Title

The rain delayed 2019 World Gym Tournament 4 Goal final - played on Thursday afternoon – featured the 2018 champions Ocean Air/Thermal (David Carlson, Reg Whyte, Ernesto Ezcurra 2, Felipe Sordelli 2) and Luna Polo (Jennifer Alexy, Shannon Mendez -.5, Francisco Guinazu 3, Pepe Roriguez 1). Guinazu and Rodriguez were replacing the injured Diego Larregli 3 and Santiago  Mendez 1.5 respectively.

With Luna Polo starting with a handicap grant of one half, Ocean Air/Thermal scored twice in the first to lead 2 - .5.

Luna came back with three in the second but the defending champions scored a pair and still led at half-time at 4 – 3.5.

Ocean Air/Thermalcounted another in the third chukker to lead by one and a half going to the fourth at 5 – 3.5.

Scoring was split in the fourth with one apiece to give a final score of 6 – 4.5 and the 2018 winners had successfully defended their title and had won the 31^st annual World Gym Tournament.

For the victors, Sordelli scored three goals and Ezcurra counted three as well (2 fouls).

The reply for Luna was Alexy with a pair and Guinazu counted two foul conversions.

Mike and Claudia Uretz were on hand to present the unique World Gym Trophy and the Best Playing Pony award went to Pepo, owned by Whyte and played by Sordelli in the first period.

Tony Gregg

Antelope Comes Back to Win Jason Memorial

Antelope: Grant Palmer, Geoff Palmer, Santiago Trotz, Jim Wright presented by Madelyn Cobb, Lyn Jason Cobb, Ty Cobb, Bobby Knoop

It has long been stated that if you work slowly but constantly, you will succeed better than if you work fast for a short while and do not continue. This of course was the moral of the famous Aesop fable about the hare and the tortoise, but it was enacted in real time on Sunday in the 2019 Mack and Madelyn Jason Memorial final.

Coming in to the game undefeated, Geoff Palmer and his Antelope herd (Geoff Palmer, Grant Palmer, Santiago Trotz 5, Jimmy Wright 3) lined up against once defeated Louisa Musselman Fikes’ Lazy 3 (Louisa Musselman Fikes, Jared Sheldon 4, Peter Blake 3, Audrey Persano). Lazy 3’s only loss was to Antelope in qualifying play.

With a handicap award of one, Lazy 3 started very fast and right off the opening bowl-in Persano scored to take a two goal lead. The charge continued as Sheldon then scored three times (one penalty 2) and in what seemed – and probably was – record time, the Texans led by five at 5 – 0. Trotz and Wright recovered somewhat and were able to get a couple back to narrow the gap to three, but Persano counted her second and the first was over with Lazy 3 leading by a staggering four at 6 – 2. Lazy 3 was – in a word – overwhelming.

Sheldon converted another penalty 2 opportunity in the early second and Lazy 3 now led by five – would it ever stop? In another word – yes. Trotz took control and Antelope recovered as Geoff Palmer converted an open goal counter and Grant Palmer scored from the field. The second ended with the pronghorns trailing by just three.

The third period was scoreless as the Antelope recovery continued.

Lazy 3 came out in the fourth and appeared to be okay as Sheldon was allowed another open goal opportunity which he converted. However, Antelope continued to apply pressure and Geoff Palmer – perfect on the day – converted his second penalty offering. Trotz then scored his second and the fourth was over with the Texas lead narrowed to a pair at 8 – 6.

The fifth gave Antelope two goals – Wright on a penalty 4 and Trotz from the field – and the count was tied at eight going to the final.

Wright scored to give the pronghorns their first lead of the game but Sheldon converted another open goal chance to tie. Overtime looked to be inevitable as play proceeded into the final 30 seconds. With less than 15 seconds on the clock, Trotz sent one through from 65 yards and after some confusion on the part of most everyone, Antelope had won the Jason Memorial by a final count of 10 – 9.

The comeback was complete as Antelope allowed just three goals in the final five chukkers and garnered eight in the same time frame. Aesop would have been proud.

Because of his gifted playing and coaching abilities, Trotz was named the Most Valuable Player to his team and Sheldon’s first chukker gelding SportsCenter was named the Best Playing Pony – not the first such honor for this talented equine athlete.

Tony Gregg

Opening Day Presented By Ketel One Botanical

Opening day 2019 was presented by Ketel One Botanicals and the expansive crowd witnessed games from the 8 Goal Mack and Madelyn Jason Memorial and the 4 Goal World Gym Tournaments.

The Jason Memorial featured Lazy 3 (Louisa Musselman-Fikes 0, Peter Blake 3, Jared Sheldon 4, Audrey Persano 0) and Bush League/FMB (Virgil Kyle 0, Danny Walker 2, Henry Walker 2, Ulysses Escapite 4) in an extremely entertaining game.
After six wide open, hit and run chukkers, Lazy 3 prevailed by three goals (one handicap) by a final count of 12 – 9.
For the winners Shelden led all scorers with eight goals (two fouls) and Blake counted three.
The reply for Bush League/FMB saw Danny Walker with five (two fouls), Kyle had a pair, and Henry Walker and Escapite struck once each.

In the World Gym 4 Goal, Ocean Air (David Carlson 0, Reg Whyte 0, Ernesto Ezcurra 2, Felipe Sordelli 2) defeated Luna Polo (Jennifer Alexy 0, Shannon Smull -.5, Diego Larregli 3, Santiago Mendez 1.5) 9 – 6.
Sordelli led the winners with five goals, Ezcurra grabbed three (one penalty 4), and Carlson had one.
For the runners-up, Larregli scored four (one foul) and Alexy provided two.

The winning teams from both games were presented with bottles of Ketel One Botanicals by Eric Estrada of Pacific Wine and Spirits.

Tony Gregg

K2 Polo Ponies Captures Women's B Flight

The USPA Pacific Coast Women’s Challenge final was won by K2 Polo Ponies (Kim Kelly 3, Elizabeth Cunningham, Dayelle Fargey 6, Kirsten Ludwig 3)  over Bearsden (Carol Farnsworth 3, Audrey Persano 4, Catlin Dix, Hope Kerley 1) by a final score of 5 – 4 in a wide open and very entertaining game.

Trailing by two goals at halftime, K2 outscored Bearsden 4 to 1 in the second half to take a one goal victory.

Bearsden’s Audrey Persano was chosen as the MVP and Miami, played by Hope Kerley and owned by Jenny Luttrell-Benardoni was selected as the Best Playing Pony.

B Flight WINNERS - K2 Polo Ponies - (Elizabeth Cunningham, Kim Kelly, Dayelle Fargey, Kirsten Ludwig)

To win the C Flight in an extremely close game, Mary Kay Babes/SB Polo (Susan Guggenheim 2, Naima Scheraga 1,, Megan Rioux-Forker 1, Georgia Caesar 1) defeated The Partners (Bonnie Magill 1, Hannah Mitchell 1, Jennifer Hagstedt , Anne Terranova 1) in a shootout.

C Flight WINNERS - Mary Kay Babes - (Georgia Caesar, Megan Rioux-Forker, Susan Guggenheim, Naima Scheraga)

Alazanas Foxi Prevails in Women's Challenge

Displaying a very calculated and strong defensive game throughout, with the addition of second half offense, Alazanas Foxi (Kate Weber 4, Malia McCoy 5, Jessica Bailey 5, Meghan Gracida 3 - [17]) defeated Plank & Co, (Kendall Plank 4, Cheryl Schindel 2, Dayelle Fargey 6, Tiffany Busch 6 - [18]) by a final score of 4.5 - 3 to win the USPA Pacific Coast Circuit Women's Challenge and WCT Qualifier played at Southern California’s Eldorado Polo Club. Playing in front of a very involved and vocal lunchtime Cantina crowd, the winners acquired a half point award at the start.

Due to sturdy defense from both sides, the first period was somewhat choppy and ended with no scoring for either foursome. Alazanas Foxi continued to lead with the handicap difference at .5 - 0.

Fargey - playing the eventual Best Playing Pony award winner - was able to get free during the second chukker and scored twice from the field. That would be it however, as both defenses continued to work well and Plank & Co. led at 2 - .5.

The third period opened up for Alazanas Foxi as Weber and Bailey counted goals. At the same time, their strong defensive play remained in business and the oft mentioned Plank & Co. offense was held at bay. Alazanas Foxi led once again by the award difference at 2.5 - 2.

With their solid defensive play continuing in the fourth, Alazanas Foxi continued to mix in offence as well and Gracida scored to increase the lead to one and a half goals. Continued offensive pressure forced a Plank & Co. error and Weber converted a penalty number two and the lead was now two and one half goals. Fargey was able to score her third of the game to narrow the difference but time was not her ally and it was over. Alazanas Foxi was the USPA Womens Challenge/WCT Qualifier champion.

Weber, based on her steady, strong, and knowledgeable play, was selected as the Most Valuable Player to her team and Ebony - Fargey's second chukker mare - was adorned with the Best Playing Pony blanket. The Sunny Hale Memorial Horsemanship Award was presented to Catlin Dix playing for consolation winner Ocean Mist/Prime Time.
Tony Gregg

ALAZANAS FOXI Kate Weber, Meghan Gracida, Malia McCoy, Jessica Bailey
Presented by Bill Devane & Caroline Anier
(Photo: Kerri Kerley)

Women's Challenge, WCT Qualifier - Finals Set

With Friday play completed, the A and B Flight finalists have been determined.

In the A Flight, game victories by Plank & Co. and Alazanas Foxi over Luna Polo and Ocean Mist/Prime Time respectively set the stage for Sunday's main event showdown at the Cantina.

On Saturday, Cantina patrons  will see K-2 Polo engage Bearsden at 12PM in the B Flight decider.
K-2 emerged as the winner of a round-robin with High Maintenance and Jackson Hole Emporium/Cheval Polo and Bearsden advanced with their game victory over Central Coast Polo Team.

The C Flight final will be contested Saturday at 1:30 PM between The Partners and Mary Kay Babes/SB Polo.

USPA Pacific Coast Women's Challenge - Update Dec 28th

A FLIGHT

PLANK & CO. (18)                                         LUNA POLO (18)
Kendall Plank 4                                             Jennifer Alexy 5
Cheryl Schindel 2                                          Megan Judge 4
Dayelle Fargey 6                                           Cindy Halle 4                                  
Tiffany Busch 6                                              Marissa Wells 5

ALAZANAS FOXI (17)                                    OCEAN MIST/PRIME TIME (17)
Meghan Gracida 3                                         Catlin Dix 4
Kate Weber 4                                                  Audrey Persano 4
Malia McCoy 5                                                Andrea Coscia 4
Jessica Bailey 5                                              Tiamo Hudspeth 5

Friday December 28;
Plank & Co. vs Luna Polo, Ocean Mist/Prime Time vs Alazanas Foxi
Sunday December 30;
Final - Plank & Co. vs Alazanas Foxi

B FLIGHT

CENTRAL COAST POLO TEAM (9)               BEARSDEN (12)
Hannah Heitzig 1                                            Carol Farnsworth 3
Margaret Papka 1                                            Audrey Persano 4
Megan Judge 4                                                Catlin Dix 4       
Cory Williams 3                                               Hope Kerley 1

HIGH MAINTENANCE (12)                             K2-POLO PONIES (12)
Julie Fernandez 2                                             Kim Kelly 3
Lesa Slaughter 1                                               Elizabeth Cunningham
Tiamo Hudspeth 5                                             Dayelle Fargey 6
Athena Malin 4                                                   Kirsten Ludwig 3

JACKSON HOLE EMPORIUM/CHEVAL POLO (9)
Jessica Dubin
Kim Garsed 2
Megan Flynn 3
Danielle Travis 4

Friday December 28;
Game - Central Coast vs Bearsden
Round Robin - High Maintenance vs K2 vs Jackson Hole
Saturday December 29;
Final 12 PM - Bearsden vs K2-Polo

C FLIGHT

THE PARTNERS (5)                                               MARY KAY BABES/SB POLO (5)
Bonnie Magill 2                                                     Susan Guggenheim 2
Hannah Mitchel 1                                                  Naima Scheraga 1
Jennifer Hagstedt 1                                               Megan Rioux-Forker 1
Anne Terranova 1                                                 Georgia Caesar 1

Final to be played on Saturday December 28 1:30 PM

Eldorado Women's Chukker League

Eldorado Polo Club would like to announce that we are starting a new Women’s Chukker League in 2019.  

The league will start in January and will consist of 4chukkers every Friday afternoon with 1 umpire and flaggers. The cost will be $300 a week or $1,000 a month.The club is introducing this new league for the month of January and if we receive enough interest we will extend it throughout the season. If you are interested please let our office know at eldorado@eldoradopoloclub.com

Eldorado Women's Tournament Dec 27 - 30

Annual Linfoot Polo Clinic Dec 15 & 16

NYTS Tournament Concludes Successful 2018 Season

The second National Youth Tournament Series of the 2018 Eldorado season featured three very evenly matched youth teams. While several of the players had played in the National Program before, it was the first foray for others into the world of 'National' tournament polo.After two days of round-robin play, Alegria (Hope Kerley, Charlize Bisogni, Piers Bossom, Conrad Kissling, {Alysa Garcia & Athena Malin - sub for inj. Bisogni}) finished in first place.Boss Polo (Bayne Bossom, Garrett Bankhead, Haley Schneider, Taylor Olcott) were the runners-up and Lakeside (Ian Schnoebelen, Molly Agee, Hannah Stock, Elise Parde) finished third.Five all stars were selected and became eligible to compete in the National Championship; (alphabetical order) - Molly Agee, Garrett Bankhead, Bayne Bossom, Hope Kerley, Conrad Kissling.Peque, played by Kerley in her third Sunday chukker and owned by Jenny Luttrell-Benardoni wore the Best Playing Pony Blanket back to the barn.Alegria 7 - Lakeside 5Alegria 5 - Boss Polo 4Boss Polo 6 - Lakeside 4Tony Gregg

Ocean Mist Wins Women's Challenge - WCT Qualifier

Although giving up the first goal of the final game of the USPA Pacific Coast Women's Challenge - WCT Qualifier, Ocean Mist (Carin Middleton 4, Mia Bray 3, Megan Judge 3, Heather Lake 3/Sheryl Sick 3) easily won by a 9 - 2.5 count over M3 (Madelyn Cobb 4, Jemma Contreras 1, Cybele Jordan 4, Erin Brittin 2).With a handicap award of 1.5 goals at the start, M3 - with the early counter - then had a 2.5 goal lead. It was not to last long however, as Ocean Mist then scored nine unanswered tallies - two in the first, four in the second, and three in the third - to gain the victory.For the champions, Lake counted three, Bray had three (two fouls), Judge struck twice and Middleton once (a foul conversion).Cobb scored the lone M3 goal (a foul conversion).Because of her steady, strong, and thoughtful play, Bray was selected as the MVP.Maclo, owned by George Dill and played by Brittin in the forth chukker was awarded the Best Playing Pony blanket.In earlier action, Deer Creek (Kate Weber 4, Caroline Anier 5, Gina Padilla 3, Leslie Tims 1) defeated Las Patronas JJCK (Jennifer Alexy 5, Jenny Luttrell-Benardoni 4, Claudia Uretz 2, Kim Garsed 2) by a final count of 6 - 5 to win the Consolation final.Anier, playing a strong inside game, was awarded the title of MVP and Luttrell-Benardoni's mare Anita was chosen as the Best Playing Pony - the second Easter Sunday honor for a Luttrell-Benardoni horse.Tony Gregg

National Youth Tournament Series

LAKESIDE - Molly Agee B.5, Ian Schnoebelen B, Elise Pardue B, Hannah Stock B.BOSS POLO - Bayne Bossom A, Garrett Bankhead B, Taylor Olcott B, Haley Schneider B.ALEGRIA - Conrad Kissling 1.5, Hope Kerley B, Charlize Bisogni B, Piers Bossom -1.Teams will play Saturday and Sunday Round Robins.Saturday - First game at 12 noon

USPA Pacific Coast Women's Challenge WCT Qualifier

LAS PATRONAS JJCK (13) - Jennifer Alexy 5, Jenny Luttrell-Benardoni 4, Claudia Uretz 2, Kim Garsed 2.M3 (11) - Madelyn Cobb 4, Jemma Contreras 1, Cybele Jordan 4, Erin Brittin 2.MANILA POLO (13) - Kate Weber 4, Gina Padilla 3, Caroline Anier 5, Lesley Tims 1.OCEAN MIST (13) - Heather Lake 3, Carin Middleton 4, Megan Judge 3, Mia Bray 3.SCHEDULESat Mar 31 9 AM - Manilla Polo vs Ocean MistSat Mar 31 10AM - Las Patronas JJCK vs M3Sun Apr 1 - Final; M3 vs Ocean Mist

Boss Polo Wins 2018 Governor's Cup

The 2018 Pacific Coast Circuit Governor's Cup final was a contest between a pair of young newcomers and a familiar face who had played in the final several times before.In fact, Reg Whyte had not only been there before, he won the coveted trophy in 2010.This year's game would see Whyte and his Thermal group (Reg Whyte, Mia Bray, Patrick Uretz 4, Felipe Sordelli 2) face off with rookies Bayne Bossom and Leslie Tims' Boss Polo partnership (Leslie Tims -1, Bayne Bossom, Jared Sheldon 4, Remy Du Celliee Muller 3) in a game that saw several swings in momentum.From the start it was apparent that this would be quick and fast game as Uretz ran from the initial bowl-in and scored to give a very early lead to Thermal. However, Sheldon scored three goals in a row to grab a two goal bulge for Boss Polo. Bossom finished off the first period with two counters of his own and the opener was over with the youngsters leading with a count of 5 - 1.The momentum that hurt Thermal in the first was theirs in the second frame as the pressure they exerted created defensive errors by Boss Polo. The result was three open goal awards - from 40 yards - that Uretz converted. Boss Polo still led but by just one at 5 - 4.Chukker number three saw Boss Polo grab the momentum once again as Du Celliee Muller scored three goals and Sheldon had one. Uretz was able to reply for Thermal with one but the lead was now four for the newcomers at 9 - 5.Thermal came within three as Sordelli scored his first but Sheldon got that back to quell a possible comeback. Sordelli was able to grab another but that would be it as Boss Polo won by a final tally of 10 - 7.Because of his superb offensive and defensive abilities in the middle of the game, Du Celliee Muller was named the Most Valuable Player to his team.Chiquita - played by Sheldon in his explosive first chukker - was selected as the Best Playing Pony.Tony Gregg

Twin Palms Doubles the Skins Money and Wins Rossmore

On an 'absolutely perfect afternoon in sunny Southern California' and in front of a huge and extremely involved crowd, Twin Palms (Graham Bray 3, Mason Wroe 4, Patrick Uretz 4, Mike Kerley 1 {sub for inj Chris Maloney 1}) ran to convincing $14,000 to $7,000 money win and 12 - 9 overall victory over Farmers & Merchants Bank/RH Polo (Danny Walker 2, Mariano Fassetta 5, Santiago Von Wernich 5, Catlin Dix {sub for inj Ben Soleimani}) in the 24th annual Polo Skins Games and the USPA Rossmore Cup.With $3500 available in each chukker, the hotly contested game turned out to be a perfect example of how polo is supposed to be played - hit the ball and run.At the outset, speed and accuracy was to be prevalent as the Walker group prevailed by one goal to lead in the Rossmore at 3 - 2 and in doing so won the $3,500 available in the first period.Twin Palms came back in the second and outscored the bankers by an identical count of 3 - 2 and grabbed their first cash award of $3,500. The money was now even as was the Rossmore tally at 5 - 5.The third period saw Farmers & Merchants/RH Polo score two goals to just a single from Twin Palms to grab another chunk of cash to lead at $7,000 to $3,500 and go ahead in the overall at 7 - 6.As the very big crowd took part in the Ruffino Prosecco halftime divot stomp, the Twin Palms foursome used the time wisely and it showed in the fourth period as they outran FMB/RH by a count of 4 - 1 and in doing so won another $3,500 to get even in the money count at $7,000 and jump ahead for the Rossmore at 10 - 8.As the classic polo continued in the penultimate frame the scoring was made difficult by great defensive work and each side counted but one goal to create the first carryover of the afternoon. This would make the sixth chukker worth $7,000. Twin Palms continued to lead in the Rossmore at 11 - 9.The final saw just one goal - perhaps fittingly from Patrick Uretz - and Chris Maloney's Twin Palms had doubled the money count and at the same time took the overall tally to win the Rossmore Cup ($14,000 - $7,000 and 12 - 9 overall).For the winners, Uretz scored nine goals (four fouls), Bray had a pair, and Wroe counted one.Fassetta struck seven times for FMB/RH and Waker had two in the loss.In a game where he showed his ability to do everything required to play winning polo, Uretz was selected as the MVP.Josephina, a product of the Walker breeding program, and played by Walker in the second period, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.Prior to the awards presentation to the winners and the runners-up, David Carlson was presented with the Robert Skene Most Improved Player Trophy.Tony Gregg

USPA Rossmore Cup/Skins Final Set

COTTEREL FARMS (11) - Jenny Luttrell-Benardoni, Francisco Benardoni 1, Ruben Cosia 5, Juan Curbelo 5.FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANK/RH POLO (12) - Danny Walker 2, Ben Soleimani, Mariano Fassetta 5, Santiago Von Wernich 5.HIGHWOOD (12) - Ron Mathison, Marcelo Rodriguez-Abbiati 4, Mariano Gutierrez 4, Geronimo Obregon 4.TWIN PALMS (12) - Chris Maloney 1, Graham Bray 5, Mason Wroe 4, Patrick Uretz 4.STANDINGSTwin Palms 3 0 def Cotterel, Farmers & Merchants/RH Polo, HighwoodFarmers & Merchants/RH Polo 2 1 def Highwood, Cotterel lost Twin PalmsHighwood 1 2 def Cotterel lost Farmers & Merchants/RH, Twin PalmsCotterel Farms 0 3 lost Twin Palms, Highwood, Farmers & Merchants/RH PoloFri Mar 16 - Highwood vs Farmers & Merchants/RH, Cotterel vs Twin PalmsSun Mar 18- Twin Palms vs Farmers & Merchants/RH, Cotterel vs HighwoodFri Mar 23 - Farmers & Merchahts/RH vs Cotterel, Highwood vs Twin PalmsSun Mar 11 - Final - Farmers & Merchants Bank/RH Polo vs Twin PalmsTwo best records will play final'Who beat who' and 'shootout' rules in effect