USA-Aiken dominates Jamaica in home stand series!
Aiken, SC – USA-Aiken faced off against Team Jamaica on Friday May 30 at Meadow Hill with a 9-5 victory to open the home portion of the USA v. Jamaica Series that began in February in Montego Bay Jamaica. Then on Sunday June 1 they sealed the deal with the championship game to win the home stand of the series with a 5-3 victory. The 2008 International Series of Polo II presented by Hotel Aiken and hosted by 302 Polo presented by Mercedes-Benz of Augusta had team USA-Aiken Paul Shealy (B), Rick Hartnett (2), Willie Hartnett (4) and Tom Uskup (2) pitted against Jamaica’s tough roster of Rory Vernon (B), Lesley Ann Masterson Fong-Yee, Andy Vernon (4) and Shane Chin (2).
USA-Aiken’s Paul Shealy opened the scoring on a beautiful tip shot to stake a 1-0 advantage to Team USA-Aiken in the first minute of the game, very quickly Jamaica’s Shane Chinn socked one in to tie it at 1-1. Big stick Andy Vernon of Jamaica slammed a gorgeous penalty #4 through the uprights to slide Jamaica in the lead 2-1 at the close of the first. In the second USA-Aiken’s Tom Uskup roared back with a great goal to tie it up at 2-2 at the half. Andy Vernon once again showed his strength by pushing in a great shot to put Jamaica ahead by 3-2 at the conclusion of the third. It looked as if Jamaica was going to run away with the series with a victory on USA-Aiken’s home soil. But, in the end the fourth chukker was all team USA-Aiken with goals by Rick Hartnett, Willie Hartnett and then Tom Uskup in the final second, all unanswered by Team Jamaica to seal the victory for USA-Aiken 5-3.
Darling little eleven year old Riley Vernon, Andy and Gay Vernon’s sweet baby girl presented the trophies to both teams with the support of the International Series sponsor Hotel Aiken’s Kishan Shah. Not to be bested by team USA-Aiken in all departments the Jamaican team exhibited their usual high level of sportsmanship and presented their hosts with gifts of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and Jamaica’s best Appleton Estates Rum! Team Jamaica’s Andy Vernon said it best of all-“Coming here is a privilege unequalled, the fields and the horses are incredible, it is been a great time for all of us, it’s so cool mon!”-pretty high praise from one of the Caribbean’s best polo players and top reggae musicians! Team USA-Aiken’s Paul Shealy agreed, “this is probably the most fun game I have ever played, the level of competition was great and the sportsmanship just simply amazing-it’s how polo was meant to be played a true gentleman’s game played amongst friends!”
With 2008’s series finishing at a draw with two victories for the Jamaican’s on their home turf and two for the American’s on theirs, a rematch is sure to ensue in 2009 with Team USA-Aiken’s scheduled visit in February to Montego Bay! Call the Coyaba Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica for reservations if you care to attend!
302 Polo (www.302polo.com) thanks all of its sponsors for their support. Hotel Aiken, Mercedes-Benz of Augusta, and all of the participating corporate sponsors are delighted to bring this unique and special event to Aiken.