Thermal, CA (March 13, 2008) – Sometimes a delayed final can be detrimental to a teams chances of winning a tournament. There are other times when a delay can reap rewards. It doesn’t happen often, but such was the case at the La Quinta Polo Club on this Thursday, March 13, 2008, when Kelly Maloney and Craig Steinke’s Ohana/Stormcat defeated Chris Maloney and Bill Freeman’s Tri Tech/Corleone in the delayed final of the Hidden Creek Open, by a score of 11 – 7.
The difference in this one was Dan Juarez who, after a rather slow start to the 2008 season, has been a big factor on anyone’s polo field of late. Had the final not been delayed, who knows what the result would have been as Juarez had not been playing that well. The bottom line, however, is that the final was delayed and it played into the Yakima, Washington native hand’s perfectly. At this time of the winter, he is playing very well, and it was obvious, as he scored seven times in the Kelly Malony/Steinke victory.
With an award of one at the start, Juarez and Santigo von Wernich pounced and led 3 – 0 early on. Chris Maloney and Gaston von Wernich each scored for Tri Tech/Corleone to get back to the to the handicap difference at the end of the first.
The lead for Ohana/Stormcat however, became two at the half, 6 – 4, and the second three belonged to them, as Juarez controlled the field and never trailed.
For the winners and in support of the Juarez seven, von Wernich had two, and Steinke potted one. The handicap award completed the count.
The replies for Tri Tech/Corleone came from Fergus Gould with three and Chris Maloney and Gaston von Wernich with two each.
Hidden Creek Open – Champions;
Ohana/Stormcat – Kelly Maloney, Craig Steinke 1, Daniel Juarez 4, Santiago von Wernich 4.
Photo: Danny Juarez, Santiago Von Wernich, Craig Steinke and Kelly Maloney.
Play at La Quinta continues Saturday, and the final of Chris Maloney’s Tri Tech Tournament, a $24,000 Skins format to benefit the United Pegasus Foundation, to be played on Sunday, March 16, 2008.
tony gregg