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

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

Governor's Cup Final - Familiar Face vs Newcomers

BRACKET 1BLAZERS (6) - Pat Powell, Kyle Fargey 3, Diego Cossio 2, Malia McCoy 1.BOSS POLO (6) - Lesley Tims -1, Bayne Bossom, Jared Sheldon 4, Remy Du Celliee Muller 3.BEARSDEN (5.5) - Carol Farnsworth -.5, Cody Woodfin 2, Peter Blake 3, Jessica Baily 1.HANALEI BAY (6) - Krista Bonaguidi -1, Ashton Wolf 3, Taylor Freeman 2, Matthew Fonseca 2.BRACKET 2BUSH LEAGUE (6) - Virgil Kyle, Ryan Robertson .5, Ulysses Escapite 4, Jose Rodriguez 1.5.THERMAL (6) - Reg Whyte, Mia Bray, Patrick Uretz 4, Felipe Sordelli 2.LUNA NUEVA (6) - Jennifer Alexy .5, Cheryl Schindel -.5, Diego Larregli 3, Luis Saracco 3.Boss Polo 2 0 1 def Hanalei Bay, Blazers tied Bearsden (first)Blazers 2 1 def Bearsden, Hanalei Bay lost Boss Polo (second)Hanalei Bay 1 2 def Bearsden lost Boss Polo, BlazersBearsden 0 2 1 lost Blazers, Hanalei Bay tied Boss PoloThermal 1 1 def Luna Nueva lost Bush League (won shootout)Bush League 1 1 def Thermal lost Luna Nueva (second in shootout)Luna Nueva 1 1 def Bush League lost Thermal (eliminated in shootout)Sat Mar 17 - Blazers vs Bearsden, Boss Polo vs Hanalei BaySat Mar 17 - Bush League vs Luna NuevaSun Mar 18 - Boss Polo vs Blazers, Bearsden vs Hanalei BaySun Mar 18 - Thermal vs Bush LeagueThur Mar 22 - Hanalei Bay vs Blazers, Bearsden vs Boss PoloThur Mar 22 - Luna Nueva vs ThermalSat Mar 24 - Semi Finals; Boss Polo vs Bush League, Blazers vs ThermalSun Mar 25 - Final; Thermal vs Boss PoloPlay is inside the bracketTwo teams with best record in their bracket will play in cross bracket semi-final - first in one bracket plays second in the other bracketWinners will advance to finalThree teams that that don't advance to semi-finals will play Round-Robin for the Lt. Governor's CupShootout rules in effect

Boss Polo Wins Prelude to the Governor's Cup

It has been said, that if you win most of the throw-ins in a polo game you will have a strong chance of winning the game. This proved to be true for Boss Polo (Bayne Bossom, Lesley Tims -1, Jared Sheldon 4, Remy Du Celliee Muller 3) as they - in overtime - defeated Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaguidi -1, Ashton Wolf 3, Taylor Freeman 2, Matthew Fonseca 2) in an extremely entertaining March 6 Goal final on an 'absolutely perfect afternoon in sunny Southern California' by a final tally of 8 - 7.From the outset it became obvious that this was going to be a running game - out of the throw-ins quickly and go.To that point Wolf grabbed the ball from the initial toss and scored on a superb run to gain the early lead for the Hawaiians. That one goal advantage became two as Bonaguidi caught a perfect pass and carried the ball 120 yards to rack up another counter. Not to be outdone, Sheldon then showed his ability to hit and run out of the scrums as he grabbed three in a row - the 'natural hat trick' - to give Boss Polo a lead of one after one at 3 - 2.The wide open style for both sides continued in the second chukker as Sheldon scored two more for Boss Polo and Wolf and Fonseca replied for Hanalei Bay and it was 5 - 4 Boss Polo at the half.The speed continued in the third period but defensive work was stronger as only two goals were scored. By grabbing both of those - from Freeman and Fonseca - the surfers held the lead going to the final of regulation by a count of 6- 5.The fourth stanza saw much of the same open style of play, but a Hanalei Bay defensive error allowed Sheldon a free-throw opportunity from 30 yards which he easily converted to tie the score at six. Freeman then grabbed his second of the game and the lead was back in the hands of Bonaguidi and crew. That lead was rather short lived however as Tims alertly jumped on a loose ball in front of the Hawaiian goal and it was again tied - this time at seven and it was on to an extremely short overtime.With the throw in toward the boards and about 120 yards out from the Hanalei Bay goal, and near the left side line, a cool and very quick Bossom grabbed the ball and ran and scored. It was over just like that - the shortest extra frame many had ever seen at no more than 10 seconds elapsed - and again showed the strengh of winning the scrums and running as Boss Polo won the March 6 Goal. Many in the very large and exuberant crowd remarked that this was, most certainly, one of the best games they had witnessed in a very long time.With six goals, Sheldon was the obvious choice for MVP and Shock Top, owned and played by Sheldon in the second was honored as the Best Playing Pony.Tony Gregg

Cotterel Takes Long Route to March 12 Goal Victory

It really doesn't matter how you get to the final game of any tournament - it's what you do when you get there. For Jenny Luttrell-Benardoni and her Cotterel Farms aggregation (Jenny Luttrell-Benardoni, Francisco Benardoni 1, Ruben Coscia 5, Juan Curbelo 5) the route to the final was not ideal. A pair of losses to start with and it didn't look promising. But a third game victory combined with some help, allowed the Idaho group into a shootout to determine an opponent for undefeated Highwood (Ron Mathison, Marcello Rodrigues-Abbiati 4, Geronimo Obregon 4, Mariano Gutierrez 4) - a shootout that they won.The final then, was a rematch between the tournament's first game combatants but the result would be much different - this time Cotterel prevailed. In fact, the Idaho farmers would never trail as they literally outran the Canadian outfit by a final score of 6 - 5.With a handicap award of one to start with, first period counters by Curbelo and Coscia gave Cotterel a lead of three going to the second.Gutierrez and Rodriguez-Abbiati scored for Highwood in that second to trail by just one (3 - 2).Benardoni notched his first of the day in the third chukker to give Cotterel a lead of two but Highwood got back to within one as Gutierrez converted a penalty four strike to go to halftime (4 - 3).Curbelo scored his second - the only goal of the fourth frame - and Idaho now led by two with two to go in regulation (5 - 3).The penultimate stanza - like chukker number four - featured just one goal. That counter was an open goal conversion by Gutierrez from 30 yards and Mathison and Co., once again, trailed by only one going to the final frame (5 - 4).In the sixth, Gutierrez grabbed his second goal from the field and the count was now tied at five with less than three minutes to go. An alert play from the right of the Highwood goal rewarded Benardoni with his second goal of the contest that turned out to be the winner as Cotterel prevailed by one goal at 6 - 5 and had won the March 12 Goal Tournament - the prelude to the Skins Tournament.Benardoni, with creative and aggressive play, was selected as the Most Valuable Player to his team and Euro, owned by Mathison and played by Rodriguez-Abbiati, was rewarded with the Best Playing Pony blanket.Tony Gregg

Constitution 4 Goal Title to Thermal

The Fish Creek Constitution four Goal final saw the same team ascend the awards stand as the winner of the Beal Cup - but with a different name. In the Beal, Thermal (Reg Whyte, Debra Vermoch -1, Tim Rudy 3, Felipe Sordelli 2) was known as Pheasant Hollow. It made little difference as the result was the same - a second victory.The opposition was different however as Jay Garnett and Kristen Hiller's Vancouver Polo/MedExpert combination (Jay Garnett -1, Kristen Hiller -1, Nicolas Maciel 3, Jimmy Wright 3) would mount up as the resistance.The first half featured very even play and resulted in a score of 2 - 2 going to the break.Thermal then took over and controlled the second two periods by outscoring Vancouver/MedExpert by a count of 5 - 1 leading to a final tally of 7 - 3.Sordelli led the scoring for the victors with four goals, Rudy had a pair and Whyte supplied one.For Vancouver/MedExpert, Wright had two and Maciel one.Sordelli was chosen as the MVP and Love Song, owned by Wrightway Polo and played by Wright was deemed to be the Best Playing Pony.Tony Gregg

Antelope Junior Takes Third Title With Constitution 8 Win

To say that Grant Palmer's foray into competitive polo at Eldorado - beyond the Pro Pool and NYTS competition - was successful would be a gross understatement. With a win in the very competitive January Officer's Cup and victories in February's equally difficult Beal Cup and Sunday's Fish Creek Constitution Cup, Palmer and his Antelope Junior team (Grant Palmer, Patrick Uretz 4, Carolyn Anier 1, Jimmy Wright 3) 'ran the table' in the 2018 8 Goal events. With the first pair of wins in hand, the Constitution Final opposition would be Chris Maloney and his Twin Palms crew (Chris Maloney 1 (Mike Kerley 1 sub ch 2.5 - 6), Graham Bray 3, Mason Wroe 4, Mia Bray -1).Scoring in the first was even at two apiece but a handicap grant to Twin Palms gave the Maloney group a lead of one at 3 - 2.The only goal of the second frame went to Twin Palms and their lead became a pair (4 - 2) going to the third chukker.The Twin Palms lead remained two after the third period as both teams scored a goal leading to the half (5 - 3).With equal scoring in the fourth period the difference remained at two to favor the Maloney crew (7 - 5) and at this point they had led after each chukker - a situation that was unusual for Antelope Junior.However, the youngsters tightened the defensive screws in the fifth as they allowed nothing and, at the same time, counted two to tie the game at seven with one to go in regulation.A strike from the field in the final frame to - once again - nothing for Twin Palms gave Palmer his third tournament championship of the season by a final tally of 8 - 7.With the Constitution awards in hand, Scott Niwa, Area Manager, presented the winners with bottles of Don Julio Tequila - save Palmer himself who will have to wait several years before he can collect.Scoring for the winners was led by Uretz with four (2 fouls), Anier with two, and Palmer and Wright with one each.The Twin Palms reply came from Wroe with four (2 fouls) and Graham Bray with two. The handicap award completed the count.Because of her very shrewd, precise, and quick play 'inside the game', the ever present veteran Carolyn Anier was selected as the Most Valuable Player to her team.Sydney, owned by Mia Bray and played in the fifth chukker by her father, Graham Bray, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.Tony Gregg