Six teams are on the hunt for the third tournament of the High-Goal Series at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. The USPA America Cup has been a fixture in Santa Barbara for many years, adding an extra element of prestige to the tournament.
Sol de Agosto adjusted their lineup, switching out Figueras for Team USPA member Jim Wright (2). Wright just finished a successful 12-goal season and helped shift the momentum for Sol de Agosto. While finishing just short in both matches, the team is prepared for their run at the Gulfstream Pacific Coast Open later this month.
After making the previous two finals, Santa Clara is once again on top after two rounds of play. The father/son Escobar duo, along with Joaquin Panelo and Mariano Obregon, narrowly defeated Lucchese and Farmers & Merchants Bank.
After losing to Santa Clara, Lucchese turned on the heat, stunning Klentner Ranch 14-8. Jeff Hall took control of the match with ease and pushed Augustin Obregon and Jared Zenni to a fantastic performance.
Though Lucchese proved to be a stumbling block for Klentner Ranch, they took down the RH squad in the first round. RH came back on Sunday to defeat Sol de Agosto in the 3:00 pm featured match. Friday’s games will be important for each team to determine who will go to the final on Sunday. A shootout will be used to break any three-way ties in record.
All photos © David Lominska