TWIN PALMS- Ryan Kerley, Graham Bray, Juan Curbelo & Chris Maloney

By playing an aggressive and quick style of polo, Chris Maloney and his Twin Palms organization (Chris Maloney 1, Graham Bray 3, Juan Curbelo 5, Ryan Kerley -1) were able to defeat Klentner/Sapa/FMB Too (Henry Walker 2, Igor Seyranov -1, Jesse Bray 6, Tony Uretz 1 – sub for inj Justin Klentner 1) in the final of the Coachella Valley Officer’s 8 Goal Championship by a final tally of 14 – 9. While playing pretty much even in the first half, Twin Palms steadily controlled the second three periods by outscoring KSF by four goals and went on to claim the victory.

In front of a very large crowd on a perfect day – enhanced by presenting sponsor Don Julio – the first chukker was played even with three goals to each team. Graham Bray, longtime Twin Palms quarterback, opened the scoring but KSF’s Seyranov scored two quick goals to grab the lead back at 2 – 1. Walker then gave the Santa Barbara crew a lead of three but Curbelo and Graham Bray with a field goal each evened the count at three after one.

After a very fast first period, play in the second was much slower as each foursome scored just one time. Curbelo on a penalty three conversion for Twin Palms and Jesse Bray replied with his own three for KSF and the score after two was tied at four.

Walker gave KSF their last lead of the afternoon in the early third but it was short lived as Curbelo counted another three and a penalty four as well. At the half, Maloney and Co. led by one at 6 – 5.

The fourth saw Twin Palms gain an advantage of two at 9 – 7 as Curbelo scored two more – a number two from the spot and a field goal – and Kerley had one from the field. The replies from KSF came from Jesse Bray with a pair.

Twin Palms then led by four as Curbelo counted two more. Walker, with his third, gave KSF some hope, but he then had to leave the game with a broken hand and any KSF aspirations were now in jeopardy. Jose Rodriguez filled in for the injured Walker but Curbelo’s fifth foul conversion destroyed any Santa Barbara aspirations and the Twin Palms lead was four at 12 – 8.

Jesse Bray opened the final chukker scoring with a field goal, but Curbelo replied with a pair - another three and a field goal – to ensure the somewhat lopsided victory at 14 – 9.

With the victory, Twin Palms earned the coveted Richard Roenisch Bronzes and as well, the Don Julio girls presented bottles of Don Julio Blanc to the winners.

With 11 goals on the afternoon, earned with a very quick and aggressive style of play, Curbelo was selected as the MVP and Fletcher, owned and played by Graham Bray in the fifth, wore the Best Playing Pony blanket back to the barn.

Tony Gregg

Graham Bray’s Best Playing Pony “Fletcher”