U.S. OPEN WOMEN'S HANDICAP®
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The U.S. Open Women’s Handicap® 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 4-1. 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. Many top women’s players have captured this illustrious title, including Vickie Armour, Alina Carta, Cindy Halle, Carolyn Stimmel, Lesley-Ann Masterton Fong-Yee and Oatsie 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®. The 2020 final came down to the dying seconds between Aspen Snowmass (Morgan McBride, Stephanie Massey Colburn, Anna Winslow-Palacios, KC Krueger) and Villa Ecleto (Morgan Tennant, Katie George, Mia Bray, Alyson Poor). Displaying an offense with quick runs to goal, Aspen Snowmass produced nine more shot attempts, including a strong final chukker to come from behind and claim the 4-3.5 victory as time expired.
This year's U.S. Open Women’s Handicap® will feature a deep field of 11 teams competing for the title, including defending champions Aspen Snowmass. KC Krueger is the only returning member of the defending champion Aspen Snowmass team, while former teammate Stephanie Colburn joins Ketel One Botanical. Showcasing teams with both experience and youth, Mid State Roofing is entirely composed of recent 2021 NYTS Championship® competitors, including Summer Kneece, 2021 NYTS Girls Championship® winner and Most Valuable Player.
Also among the competition is Team USPA alumnae Tiamo Hudspeth (Ketel One Botanical) and Audry Persano (Villa Eclecto).
Photo: 2020 U.S. Open Women's Handicap® Champions: Aspen Snowmass - Stephanie Massey Colburn, Anna Winslow Palacios, KC Krueger, Morgan McBride. ©Kaylee Wroe
