Thermal, CA, (January 20, 2008) – On a somewhat cool, but otherwise perfect, desert afternoon, the 2008 season for Sean Key’s La Quinta Polo Club got underway with two games on Saturday. The first two weekends will feature the HiddenCreek Open.
Game one saw Keys and Steven Armour’s Hidden Creek/Shanghai face Kelley Maloney and Ohana. The Islanders, with one at the start, led by three at the half (6 – 3) but were unable to hold on, as Keys and Armour led by one after the fifth. A pair for Maloney and crew to but one for Keys and Armour in the final created an 8 – 8 tie after regulation.
Keys led his quartet with four goals, Armour converted two open goal opportunities, and Rob Yackley scored twice.
Craig Steinke was strong for Ohana with four goals. Santigo von Wernich had two and Danny Juarez nailed one.
The feature game on opening day put Bill Freeman and his Team Corleone up against David Ragland’s Pink Deco. With a gift of one via the handicap system, Freeman and company led after each period and defeated the Ragland bunch by the handicap difference at 9 – 8.
Fergus Gould was huge in the win with five tallies. Freeman, Gaston von Wernich, and Glee White (substituting for Chris Maloney) all had one.
Ragland and Marcos Araya had three each for the Pink crew. Kimo Huddleston and Jesse Bray contributed one each.
The format in the Hidden Creek Open will award two points for a win and will give one point for a tie. The top two teams after three games will play in the final on Sunday, January 27, 2008.
Hidden Creek/Shanghai (10) – Sean Keys 1, Steven Armour, Graham Bray 5, Robert Yackley 4.
Ohana (9)- Kelly Maloney, Craig Steinke 1, Daniel Juarez 4, Santiago von Wernich 4.
Team Corleone (9) – Bill Freeman, Fergus Gould 4, Gaston von Wernich 5, Glee White.
Pink Deco (10) – David Ragland, Jesse Bray 1, Kimo Huddleston 4, Marcos Araya 5.