PACIFIC COAST OPEN
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Standing at a striking height of five feet, the glorious silver-and-gold trophy for the Pacific Coast Open (PCO) is a dazzling sight. Crowned with an eagle supporting a globe and adorned with semiprecious stones, the trophy is mounted on a redwood base with side panels depicting lively polo scenes. The cup was commissioned in 1908 by friends and members of the Coronado Country Club in California. First competed for the following year, it was initially called the All American Polo Trophy.
For more than 100 years, the trophy has resided at many clubs. Throughout the late 1920s until the early 1940s the tournament was hosted by numerous California clubs, often landing at each club for no more than a few years before switching to another. After World War II, the PCO moved to the posh and glamorous Beverly Hills Polo Club until 1952 when it took permanent residency at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club where it remains today.
Eight teams will take to the field to compete for the largest title on the Pacific Coast, an increase from seven teams in 2019. Defending champions Farmers & Merchants Bank will seek to reclaim the title. The remaining teams competing this year include Bensoleimani.com, Santa Clara, FMB Too!, Lucchese, Dundas, Antelope and Klentner Ranch.
Amongst the competition are Team USPA members, Lucas Escobar (Santa Clara) and Nico Escobar (Lucchese), as well as Graduating Team USPA members Jesse Bray (Klentner Ranch), Geronimo Obregon (Klentner Ranch), Matt Coppola (Antelope) and Santi Torres (Dundas).
Photo: 2019 Silver Air Pacific Coast Open Champions: Farmers & Merchants Bank - Lucas Escobar, Santiago Toccalino, Juan Monteverde, Daniel Walker.
