NEWS

On an overcast and cloudy Saturday, four teams met at the Central Texas Polo Association’s Two Wishes polo facility in Lockhart, Texas, to play the opening matches of the USPA Southwestern Circuit Governor’s Cup Qualifier.

JD Polo (.5)
Taylor Morris (B)
Max Beuck (B.5)
Agustin Arrayago (2)
Thomas Phelps (A)

Kanthara (3)
Sylvia Kampshoff (AT)
Cautro Tolson (1)
Philipp Kampshoff (1)
Ariel Rodriguez (1)

McAllen (2)
Morgan Tennant (B)
Nacho Estrada (1)
Lalo Ramirez (2T)
Juan Gonzalez (AT)

Texas Military (.5)
Joshua Rodriguez (B)
Gal Shweiki (A.5)
Karl Hilberg (A)
Glen Voorhees (1)

The first game pitted Kanthara against McAllen. The match started after a short delay due to lighting within five miles of the field. Kanthara’s Sylvia Kampshoff was the first to score with a long run to goal, the only score of the chukker. In the second chukker both teams put points on the board, with McAllen scoring two and Kanthara adding three more. After a long halftime as there was another storm delay, the game continued with McAllen adding one and Kanthara adding two more. The final chukker had McAllen playing hard, adding two more goals while holding Kanthara to one. With a 7-5.5 half win, Kanthara earned a place in the final on Sunday.

In the second game, JD Polo faced Texas Military. JD Polo, led by their high-scorer Thomas Phelps, defeated Texas Military 7-0. As the game ended the rain resumed, putting to doubt if day two of the tournament would be played.

With only a little rain over night, the field managers cleared the field for play. In the consolation match between Texas Military and McAllen, Texas Military lost in a landslide as McAllen scored two goals in the first and second chukkers and one in the third to win 5-0.

JD Polo and Kanthara met for the championship match in a hard-fought game where the final score would not reflect the play by both teams. JD polo struck first with two penalty conversions. Kanthara’s Philipp Kampshoff then converted a Penalty 3 to put his team on the board, but was matched by Agustin Arrayago’s third goal of the chukker. The second chukker was all JD Polo as their strong defense kept Kanthara scoreless while Arrayago and Phelps added three more goals, one a beautiful backshot to goal off the mallet of Phelps. Arrayago made another shot at goal that was deflected by Sylvia Kampshoff and when it was looking like Kanthara would run with the ball, Phelps hit a backshot back across and through the goal posts. JD Polo was leading 6-1 to start the third, and as both teams playing strong defense, Kanthara’s Philipp Kampshoff was the only one to score when he converted a Penalty 4. The final chukker was a defensive battle between the two teams with Kanthara’s Philipp Kampshoff scoring a field goal which was quickly matched by JD Polo’s Beuck.

Congratulations to JD Polo’s Taylor Morris, Max Beuck, Agustin Arrayago and Thomas Phelps on their win. Most Valuable Player was presented to JD Polo’s Thomas Phelps. Best Playing Pony honors were presented to Soberana owned and ridden by Kanthara’s Philipp Kampshoff.

Kanthara’s Cuatro Tolson received the Sportsmanship Award that was recently approved in the last USPA Board of Governors Meeting to be sent in tournament packages and recorded in the annual blue books.

Central Texas Polo Association would like to thank supporters who ensured all involved had a great weekend of polo: Robin Sanchez, Karl Hilberg, Holly Wood, Javier Insua, John Greening, Two Wishes Ranch and South Padre Island Polo Club’s Pud Nieto who sponsored the event.