A record crowd was there to witness Team SD Farms lift its first 26-goal tournament. The World Polo League Palm Beach Open final on Sunday at windswept Grand Champions Polo Club saw SD Farms and Audi Polo team locking horns in an intensified game that was back and forth the whole time.
SD Farms | Audi |
|---|---|
Sayyu Dantata +2 | Marc Ganzi +2 |
Santi Torres +6 | Nic Roldan +8 |
Guillermo Terrera +8 | Pablo MacDonough +10 |
Adolfo Cambiaso +10 | Kris Kampsen +6 |
It was the first 26-goal tournament title for Nigerian Sayyu Dantata and it was the debut in the World Polo League for Nigerian players. Sayyu Dantata, playing above his 2-goal handicap, scored two goals and defended 10-goaler Pablo MacDonough to receive the Catena Fair Play award. “This is the thrill of my life and playing with the best player in the world is a bonus," Dantata said. "This feels amazing. I am very, very happy and very excited. My family came here to watch and I am sure the guys back home in Nigeria are excited, too."
SD Farms earned 75000$ in prize money and finished the tournament undefeated with 5 victories. Audi was undefeated throughout but lost the final to SD Farms and finished the tournament 4-1. Argentine 10-goaler and one of the best Polo players, Adolfo Cambiaso, scored 5 goals to receive the Most Valuable Player award. Adolfo Cambiaso said, "Sayyu had a great game and did well against Pablo. I think it is the best game we played as a team. We all did a good job. This is a very good team."
Team Audi came back into the game in the second half. Team Pilot lead the charge from the first minute and jumped out to a lead of 7-1 after the second chukker finished off the match at 11-6. Guillermo Terrera scored an incredible 90-yard neck shot through the air in the third chukker and was SD Farms' second-leading scorer. Talking about the match, Terrera said, “The first three chukkers we had a really good rhythm. We had a six-goal difference and we kept it up. Maybe in the last two chukkers, we made a couple of fouls that allowed them to get close in the score but they didn't have enough time.”
"This is the best I have seen our team play," repeated Guillermo Terrera.
Libanella, played by Pablo MacDonough was the Grand Champions Best Playing Pony. The American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony of the game award was received by Adolfo Cambiaso's pony Miami. The American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony of the tournament was Open Medallon played by Terrera.
The Palm Beach Open Winners: Team SD Farms
Grand Champions and Valiente are launching the U.S. National Mixed Doubles Championship, featuring two men and two women with combined handicaps this month.
