Upatoi Green Machine exacts its revenge in USPA Pete Bostwick Memorial Final!
Aiken, SC – Upatoi Green showed its domininance convincingly in the finals of the USPA Pete Bostwick Memorial presented by Banks Mill Feeds and hosted by 302 Polo presented by Mercedes-Benz of Augusta at beautiful Meadow Hill on a classic Carolina spring evening defeating Brigadoon 13-10 in this very competitive and prestigious clash.
The Upatoi Green Team has proven repeatedly to be a tough nut to crack arriving at the finals with an undefeated 4-0 record. John Flournoy (1), Alan Martinez (5), Juan Martin Baez (5) and Eddy Martinez (5) made up this strong roster as they faced off with Brigadoon’s classic mix of MVP amateur Christine Cato (A), Julian Daniels (6), Tiger Kneece (6) and Del Walton (4) making their appearance in this contest with a 3-1 slate.
After suffering a rather stinging defeat to Brigadoon/Dahlwood in the USPA Hall of Fame Challenge Cup Upatoi Green went home and regrouped to come back and exact its revenge in this very competitive and classic match. According to Upatoi Green’s John Flournoy, “We had four hustlin’ players and MVP professional Eddy (Martinez) played out of his mind.” Eddy Martinez agreed, “We had prepared for this by making it a team effort, in short our preparation and camaraderie as a team lead to our win.”
Upatoi Green set the pace from the start with an amazing six goal tally from Eddy Martinez in the first three chukkers , plus three from son Alan to set tone with a Upatoi lead at the half 9-4. Several times it looked as if Brigadoon was ready to rumble with great plays by both Julian Daniels and Tiger Kneece of Brigadoon. In the fourth and fifth Brigadoon looked poised to take a stand with an open goal conversion and field goal by MVP amateur Christine Cato, one goal by Julian Daniels and two by Aiken’s own Tiger Kneece. But the green machine marched on by answering with goals by both the Martinez clan and Juan Martin Baez. Brigadoon’s Julian Daniels put an additional mark on the board but in the end Upatoi Green sealed the deal with a great goal by Alan Martinez to end the battle 13-10.
Amateur MVP Christine Cato in her usual sportsmanlike manner summed it up by saying “It was a tough competitive game but it was all good and fair-we were a little slow, we did not play like we can, not just in this game but in the whole tournament, this time they just flat out beat us.” Tiger Kneece concurred, point blank “They played well, and they deserved to win.”
Along with his MVP pro honors, Eddy Martinez’s slick black mare “Sarah” took home the professional best playing pony honors while teammate John Flournoy’s “Chaquera” purchased at the Aiken Polo Pony Sale last year garnered the honors for amateur best playing pony.
As the sun set on an incredible Carolina sky all who participated, players and spectators alike, dined on a fabulous feast prepared by Aiken’s own Jacqui Sutherland and Stir the Pot to celebrate the winners of this match, to mark in history and honor one of Aiken’s finest and best remembered polo icons, Pete Bostwick!
302 Polo (www.302polo.com), Banks Mill Feeds, Mercedes-Benz of Augusta, All Star Rents, Ag South ACA, and all of the participating corporate sponsors were delighted to host this prestigious tournament in Aiken.