8-Goal USPA National President’s Cup
4-Goal USPA National Amateur Cup
Empire Polo Club | Feb. 9th, 2020
Sunday Polo Presented by The United State Polo Association (USPA)
After two weeks of competition in the USPA 8-Goal President’s Cup, the finalists were Evergreen (Tom Sprung -1, Carlos Galindo 2, Carlitos Galindo 4, Juan Jo Gonzalez 3), and Empire (Rob Scapa 0, Robert Payne II 3, Rob Payne III 3, Russell Stimmel 2).
Evergreen’s Carlos Galindo started the scoring with a converted penalty 2. Empire fired back with Rob Scapa, Rob Payne, and Robert Payne all contributing a goal for Empire, ending the first chukker with Empire leading 3 to 1. Scoring went back and forth in chukker two. Robert Payne scored twice for Empire. Juan Jo Gonzalez and Carlitos Galindo each put a point on the board for Evergreen. Empire pulled ahead in the third time period with Stimmel’s two successful penalty shots, and Rob Payne scoring twice. Carlos Galindo pegged a penalty 3 conversion for Evergreen and the teams went to half-time with Empire leading, 9 to 4. Rob Scapa’s neck-shot sailed through the posts in the fourth chukker, and was answered by Carlos and Carlitos scoring for Evergreen. Evergreen closed the lead slightly, but the chukker ended with Empire ahead, 10 to 6. In chukker 5, Evergreen’s Carlos Galindo converted a penalty 3 and a penalty 2. Russel Stimmel came back with successful penalty 3 and penalty 4 goals. Add Rob Payne’s score and the fifth chukker ended with Empire leading 13 to 8. In the sixth chukker, Juan Jo Gonzalez made his way through a crowded goal mouth for an Evergreen goal. Carlos Galindo hit two booming shots through the posts, making him the high scorer of the game with a total of 7 goals. Rob Payne scored Empire’s only goal in the last chukker, which ended with Empire victorious, 14 to 11.
Left to right: Vicky Owens and Robert Payne II.
From left to right: Carlos Galindo and Giovanni Espionza.
The final match of the USPA 4-Goal Amateur Cup pitted Zahedi Chogan (Sy Zahedi -1, Meghan Gracida 0, Dayelle Fargey 1.5, Francisco Guinazu 3), against Hanalei Bay (Krista Bonaguidi -1, Alejandro Gonzalez 3, Taylor Freeman 2, Ryan Kerley -.5). The crowd was dazzled, as the lead changed each chukker. Zahedi Chogan’s Francisco Guinazu and Hanalei Bay’s Alejandro Gonzalez each scored twice to start off the game. Zahedi Chogan was awarded a .5 advantage by handicap, which put them up at the end of the first chukker 2.5 to 2. Guinazu made the only goal for Zahedi Chogan in the second time period. Hanalei Bay’s Gonzalez sent two through the posts, putting Hanalei Bay ahead at the end of chukker two, 4 to 3.5. Guinazu came out running in the third chukker with a penalty 3 conversion, and a powerful shot through the posts. Zahedi Chogan battled back with a team effort, as each team member on the Zahedi Chogan team scored a goal, putting Zahedi Chogan back in front by 1.5 points. Taylor Freeman joined the scoring for Hanalei Bay making 2 goals, and ending the first half with Hanalei Bay back on top with a narrow lead of 8 to 7.5. The fourth chukker started with Dayelle Fargey, a fierce competitor all day, putting Zahedi Chogan back in front by a half point with her second goal of the game. Then Hanalei Bay’s Krista Bonaguidi got loose for a long scoring run which gave Hanalei Bay the lead by a half point. Zahedi Chogan’s Guinazu rallied, scoring once from the field and twice from the penalty line, ending the fourth chukker with Zahedi Chogan back on top 11.5 to 9. In the fifth and last chukker of the match, Hanalei Bay won the game from the penalty line with Gonzalez scoring three penalty shots, and Krista Bonaguidi converting a penalty 2. Hanalei Bay took home the silver with a winning score of Hanalei Bay 13 to Zahedi Chogan 11.5.
Hanalei Bay: Alejandro Gonzalez, Taylor Freeman, George Dill, Vicky Owens, Ryan Kerley and Krista Bonaguidi.
Zahedi Chogan: Francisco Guinazu, Sy Zahedi, Vicky Owens, George Dill, Dayelle Fargey and Meghan Gracida.
From left to right: Francisco Guinazu and Vicky Owens.
