U.S. Open Women's Handicap
Tournament History
The U.S. Open Women’s Handicap tournament was established in 1979 to showcase women’s polo, following the inclusion of women into the United States Polo Association in 1972. The inaugural tournament was held at Carmel Valley Polo Club in Carmel, California. An excerpt from the 1980 USPA Bluebook describes the results, “The Women’s U.S. Handicap, sponsored by the USPA, was won by Carmel Valley. Representatives from five states played on four teams entered. Sunset [Sunny] Hale (age 10), Susie Welker, Sue Sally Hale and Stormie Hale were the champions beating Modesto, Jan Walker, Oatsie Von Gontard, Susan Walton and Bonni Middleton 4 to 1. Top scoring, Sue Sally Hale—nine for both days.”
A staple in the USPA calendar, the U.S. Open Women’s Handicap was played for 15 consecutive years, primarily at Willow Bend Polo Club in Plano, Texas. During this time American Airlines dominated the competition with a remarkable five-year winning streak (1988-1992), key players Maggie Mitchell and Kim Kelly together formed part of each winning team. The tournament then took residence at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida, throughout the late 90s and early 2000s. During seven years of competition Jolie Liston (La Mariposa USA - 2016 U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship®) garnered four U.S. Open Women’s Handicap titles. Many of the world’s top women’s players have captured this illustrious title, including Vickie Armour, Alina Carta, Cindy Halle, Carolyn Stimmel, Lesley-Ann Masterton and Oatsy von Gontard.
From 2003 to 2014 the U.S. Open Women’s Handicap fell into abeyance. It was revived in 2015 with the reemergence of the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship®; this will be the third year that the U.S. Open Women’s Handicap has been played simultaneously with the U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® at Houston Polo Club.
Photo: 2016 U.S. Open Women's Handicap champions (Players L to R) Lia Salvo, Carolyn Stimmel, Courtney Price, Grace Mudra. © Kaylee Wroe Photography
