For the last two years Argentina’s Gringo Colombres played on winning teams in the USPA’s President’s Cup, and each time he was named MVP in the finals, but it took all of his skills in order for him to lead Palm Beach Equine (Enrique Barco, Geronimo Obregon, Gringo Colombres and Scott Swerdlin) to a hard-fought 12-11 overtime win over Pony Express in the first qualifying round of the USPA President’s Cup Qualifier Tuesday afternoon at the International Polo Club in Wellington.
Pony Express (Justin Daniels, Bob Daniels, Tim Ward and Tomas Goti) got on the scoreboard first with an opening goal from Tomas Goti followed by a pair of goals from England’s Tim Ward for an early 3-0 lead. Geronimo Obregon kept Palm Beach Equine from being shutout with a closing goal. At the end of the first chukker Pony Express led by two goals, 3-1.
The pace picked up in the second with Palm Beach Equine scoring two unanswered goals. Gringo Colombres scored the first goal from the field followed by a 40-yard penalty conversion from Obregon. The score was all even at 3-3.
Palm Beach Equine repeated its defensive efforts in the third period, shutting out the Pony Express attack for a second consecutive chukker while adding three goals of their own. Two goals from Colombres and a single goal from Obregon had Palm Beach Equine on top of a 6-3 score at the end of the first half.
Pony Express bounced back in the opening chukker of the second half, taking control of the game and the ball. Three consecutive goals from Goti (one on a penalty shot) tied it up at 6-6, as Palm Beach Equine was unable to score a single goal in the chukker. With two chukkers left in regulation time the score was deadlocked at 6-6.
An even battle opened the fifth. Colombres scored the first goal of the chukker to put Palm Beach Equine ahead, 7-6, but the lead was short-lived. Ward responded for Pony Express to knot it up once again at 7-7. Scott Swerdlin’s first goal of the day put Palm Beach Equine back in front by a goal, 8-7, but Pony Express fought their way back into the game with a tying goal from Ward. Closing goals from Obregon and Colombres gave the lead to Palm Beach Equine, 10-8.
A recharged Pony Express rode onto the field in the sixth chukker and scored three straight goals for an 11-10 lead. Goti opened the sixth by converting a 60-yard Safety, 10-9. Ward added a goal from the field, 10-10, and Goti’s second goal of the chukker also came from the field for the 11-10 edge with time running out. With seconds left in regulation time, Colombres drove the ball through the Pony Express goalposts for the tie, forcing sudden-death overtime.
After a brief recess and an opportunity to bring out fresh mounts, the overtime chukker began. Palm Beach Equine took immediate control of the ball and moved it down the field. Colombres stroked the ball cleanly through the goalposts for the victory.
Colombres led all scoring with seven goals on the day, including the winner in overtime. Obregon added four goals and Swerdlin tapped one in for the win. Goti led the Pony Express with six goals. Ward was credited with five goals in the loss.
The victory will pit Palm Beach Equine against Equine Law Group (Matias Gonzalez, Avery Chapman, Del Walton and Marcos Onetto) on Friday, April 12.