NOVEMBER 15, 2011
HOUSTON POLO CLUB – HOUSTON, TX
Photos by Rebecca Bollenback

The Houston Polo Club and Cartier hosted the 6 goal USPA U.S. Women’s Open Finals, as well as the Brazos Cup Finals, on Sunday, November 13th. Last held at Empire Polo Club in Indio, California in 1990, the U.S. Women’s Open made its debut in the state of Texas in 2011, featuring many of the world’s top women players competing at the 6 goal level. World-renowned jeweler Cartier, the tournament’s title sponsor, was joined by several other corporate partners during the week-long event, including Ralph Lauren Blue Label, SAKS Fifth Avenue, La Martina, Texas Polo, Tavaero Jet Charters, and William Grant and Sons. Sixteen women’s polo teams competed at four different levels in the event, making it one of the largest women’s polo events in the world.

Kari Gonzales of Cartier with Kristy Outhier, Sunny Hale, Dawn Jones, Maureen Brennan, and HPC President George Georgiades.

Sunday’s polo matches kicked off at 1:30 pm with the finals of the 2-goal Brazos Cup, in which Hendrick’s Gin’s KC Beal, Lia Salvo, Jenny Sharrock, and Carin Middleton delivered a strong 7-2 victory over Pegasus’ Lesley Masterton, Sheila Lequerica, Anne Andras, and Kate Weber.  Salvo, Beal and Masterton made a quick change to return for another 4 chukkers in the US Women’s Open finals at 3 pm, where Masterton , Salvo, and Beal joined sponsor Chrys Beal of BTA, to face Goose Creek’s Maureen Brennan, Sunny Hale, Dawn Jones, and Kristy Outhier. Umpires of the US Women’s Open Finals were Carlos Galindo and Caroline Anier. Earlier in the week, the Consolation Finals of the US Women’s Open placed ERG’s Karen Reese, Abby Riggs, Tiffany Busch, and Cecelia Cochran in 3^rd, ahead of Ralph Lauren Blue Label’s Crystal Cassidy, Sherri-Lyn Hensman, Ina Lalor, and Sheila Lequerica.

Kristy Outhier and daughter Madison, Sunny Hale, Dawn Jones, Maureen Brennan, HPC Executive Director Pam Mudra, Miss Texas Brittany Booker, HPC Board of Directors Member Colleen Marks, Lesley Masterton, Lia Salvo, K.C. Beal, and Chrys Beal.

BTA took an early 2-0 lead in the first half, with 1 goal on handicap and 1 goal scored in the 2^nd chukker by Salvo, as Goose Creek worked to realign their defensive strategy. After the half, Goose Creek answered another goal from BTA’s Masterson with two of their own, with less that 1 minute left. The last regulation goal of the game by Goose Creek took the match into to overtime, where Sunny Hale closed the door on BTA with the final goal, ending the match at 4-3 in favor of Goose Creek. Along with a fantastic finals with overtime, guests of the event also enjoyed a VIP luncheon and reception by Cartier, beverages from Hendricks Gin, and a half-time champagne divot stomp.

Representatives from Ralph Lauren Blue Label pose with their Raplh Lauren polo team during the November 11th cocktail event hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue.

The winners of the 6-Goal event claimed 2011 rights to the perpetual U.S. Women’s Open trophy, as well as Cartier watches for each player. Dawn Jones accepted a Texas Polo saddle as the event’s MVP, with Kristy Outhier’s Modelo taking home honors as U.S. Women’s Open Best Playing Pony. Polo players in the Cartier USPA U.S. Women’s Open and Brazos Cup leagues, which are both WCT Qualifier events, are also qualified to play in the 2011 Women’s Championship Tournament Finals, to be held in Wellington, Florida.

ERG's Karen Reese and Goose Creek's Maureen Brennan defend as Tiffany Busch and Sunny Hale fight for the line in the November 12th elimination matches of the U.S. Women's Open.

For more information about the Houston Polo Club, visit www.thehoustonpoloclub.com or email Executive Director Pam Mudra at polomanager@thehoustonpoloclub.com. For more information about the Women’s Championship Tournament (WCT) polo series, visit  www.wctpolo.com.