Will Rogers Memorial Tournament
The finals of the 39th annual Will Rogers Memorial Tournament was held on October 8th at the Will Rogers Polo Club in Los Angeles. The 2006 season included many exciting tournament games, and the season ending tournament was no exception.
In the 2 goal flight, the Amalfi team of Domingo Questel, Andrew Bossom, Gerhart Heusch and Hannah “Boom Boom” Taylor had to go to overtime to defeat the Boca team of Lolo Payan, Ardeshir Radpour, Gustavo Degrief and Gabby Questel. Amalfi entered the last chukkar with a big lead, but Boca tied the game with a few minutes left. Both teams had chances to win the game in regulation, but it was an overtime goal by the tournament MVP, Andrew Bossom, that clinched the game for Amalfi, 6 to 5. Domingo and Lolo each scored 4 of their team’s goals. Lolo’s last chukkar horse lead the comeback and took home the best playing pony award.
After the 2 goal finals, Domingo filled up on caffeine, put on a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf jersey and took to the field with his son Manny, Bill Davis and Graydon Brittan in the 4 goal finals. Their opponent was a strong team made up of players from San Diego and Indio- Alvardo Tadeo, Shamin Sheik, Michael Speltz and Bill Ziering. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf had a very balanced attack, but 6 goals from hard charging Alvardo Tadeo closed the gap. A last minute penalty shot closed the gap to 1 goal, but it came as time expired and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf won 8 to 7. Alvardo Tadeo scored 6 of his teams 7 goals, and assisted on the goal he did not score. Each player on Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf scored two goals and each assisted on at least one goal. Bill Davis received the Tournament MVP award and Alvardo Tadeo’s gray mare won Best Playing Pony.
White Jerseys
2 Goal Winners- Amalfi – Left to right
Hannah Taylor
Domingo Questel
Gerhart Heusch
Andrew Bossom
Yellow Jerseys
4 Goal Winners – Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf – Left to right
Bill Davis III and Bill Davis IV
Graydon Brittan
Domingo Questel
Manny Questel