Lyn Cobb’s Coldwell Banker Menlo polo team went into the championship game of the Eldorado Polo Club’s Mack and Madelyn Jason Memorial Tournament as the odds on favorite to get Cobb (Mack’s and Madelyn’s daughter) her second Jason Memorial victory at Eldorado. It made sense as they cruised through their bracket play undefeated, and gave the impression that it didn’t really matter who they would face in the final.
With the other bracket finishing up in a three-way tie for top spot, a shootout was necessary to decide an opponent for the Cobb sales people. With the shootout completed, Krista Bonaguidi’s and Chris Collins’ Hanalei Bay/Southwind emerged as the winners and therefore moved on to the final game.
On a rather warm afternoon in the Coachella Valley, Coldwell Banker Menlo, as advertised, started quickly as Dayelle Fargey scored from the field and Jared Sheldon converted a penalty number three. Collins got one back for Hanalei Bay/Southwind to come within one but Joseph Stuart pounded a penalty six to take a lead of two goals to the second period at 3 – 1.
Cobb’s salesforce kept the pressure on in chukker number two as Sheldon converted a penalty two opportunity and Stuart struck from the field to lead by four after two (5 – 1).
Bonaguidi, Collins and Co. were able to produce some pressure of their own in the first half of the third period as Bryan Middleton and Carlitos Galindo were able to score on open goal opportunities and the lead became just a pair. Unfazed, Stuart came back with a perfect neck-shot from 110 yards to score (the announcer’s ‘shot of the day’) and Sheldon got his first from the field and the lead was once again four at ‘halftime’ (7 – 3).
Collins grabbed his second of the day- a nifty near-side effort – that turned out to be the only counter of period number four and the Coldwell Banker Menlo lead was now three (7 – 4).
Sheldon converted another open goal chance to grab a four goal lead but Middleton scored on two undefended chances of his own and the lead was now just two. Cobb scored the final goal of the game that gave her Coldwell Banker Menlo Team the victory by a score of 9 – 6. For Cobb, it was her second Mack and Madelyn Jason victory at Eldorado – the trophy is also awarded at the Menlo Circus Club during the summer season.
Because of his influential and dominating play, Stuart was selected as the MVP and his mare, Shandyland, was chosen as the Best Playing Pony.
2013 Mack and Madelyn Jason Memorial Tournament – Eldorado Polo Club
Coldwell Banker Menlo (6) – Lyn Cobb -1, Joseph Stuart 3, Jared Sheldon 3, Dayelle Fargey 1.
Hanalei Bay/Southwind (6) – Krista Bonaguidi -1, Chris Collins 1, Bryan Middleton 3, Carlitos Galindo 3.
Tony Gregg