Palm Beach Equine and Beverly Polo

Wellington, FL – January 17, 2021 – The 2021 Joe Barry Memorial concluded at the International Polo Club Palm Beach on Sunday with Santa Clara emerging victorious over Beverly Polo on the Home of U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1. In a memorable final for Santa Clara, the two father-son duos of Escobar’s and Magrini’s remained undefeated, capturing the 10-7 victory and the Joe Barry Memorial title.

Santa Clara continued their exceptional performance in Sunday’s final, displaying a balanced team effort on both offense and defense to defeat Beverly Polo for the second time in the tournament. Aiming to overcome their 11-10 overtime loss to Santa Clara a week earlier, Beverly Polo struggled from the field, converting just two of their 15 attempts. Tolito Ocampo managed to keep Beverly Polo in the match, shooting a perfect 3 for 3 from the penalty line, but Santa Clara proved to be the better team on the day, shooting 43% on 16 shots. Keko Magrini led all players with four goals, including crucial back-to-back goals in the sixth chukker, securing the tournament victory for Santa Clara in their 2021 debut.

In the early stages of the game, Santa Clara quickly erased their one-goal deficit on handicap, holding Beverly Polo scoreless in the first chukker while receiving one goal each from Keko Magrini and Luis Escobar. An early fall from Lucas Diaz Alberdi forced him from the game due to injury, replaced by Peke Gonzalez as Beverly Polo searched for an offensive spark. Goals were difficult to come by in a defensive second chukker with a Penalty 4 conversion for Tolito Ocampo proving to be the only goal in the chukker, tying the score at 2-2. Lucas and Luis Escobar helped Santa Clara retake the lead in the first few minutes of the third chukker scoring two consecutive goals, but Beverly Polo’s Peke Gonzalez made an impact with his first goal, along with one field goal from Hilario Figueras to end the first half with the teams deadlocked at 4-4

Santa Clara‘s Keko Magrini and Luis Escobar celebrate a goal. ©Alex Pacheco

The hard-fought physical game carried into the second half with just one shot between the two teams in the fourth chukker. Receiving two penalty opportunities, Santa Clara’s Lucas Escobar converted both, giving Santa Clara their first control of the game at 6-4. The duo of Keko Magrini and Lucas Escobar was a consistent factor for Santa Clara throughout the tournament, driving their attack forward, and it carried into the final two chukkers. A second yellow card awarded to Ocampo left Beverly Polo a man short for two minutes as Santa Clara extended their lead to three on goals from Keko Magrini and Luis Escobar in the fifth chukker, leaving Beverly Polo facing a difficult task with one chukker remaining. Despite scoring two goals from the penalty line in the sixth chukker, Beverly Polo’s inability to convert from the field, scoring zero field goals in the second half allowed Santa Clara to secure the victory. Keko Magrini managed to score two back-to-back goals in the final minutes, completing the impressive performance in Santa Clara’s 10-7 victory.

„Yatay Shazam,“ played by Tolito Ocampo and owned by Beverly Equestrian, was the Best Playing Pony. Pictured with Joe Wayne Barry, Tolito Ocampo, and company. ©Alex Pacheco

Keko Magrini was awarded Most Valuable Player, while Yatay Shazam, played by Tolito Ocampo and owned by Beverly Equestrian received Best Playing Pony honors.

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Wellington, FL – January 10, 2021 – For the second consecutive game in the 2021 Joe Barry Memorial, Beverly Polo found themselves in overtime, this time against Santa Clara, who was making their 2021 debut at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. After tying the game in the final seconds, Santa Clara’s Keko Magrini scored the overtime winning goal just one minute and 45 seconds into overtime, securing the 11-10 victory on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1.

A Santa Clara team featuring father-son duos of Magrini’s and Escobar’s excelled in their first game of the season, led by the young kids, Keko Magrini and Lucas Escobar, who finished with four and five goals, respectively. Shooting an efficient 67 percent from the field, Santa Clara overcame a slow start to challenge a Beverly Polo team that relied on the penalty shooting of Tolito Ocampo and four field goals from Lucas Diaz Alberdi. Late foul trouble for both teams sent the game to the penalty line, but after late penalty conversions for both teams, it was an exciting run by Santa Clara to goal that was completed for the thrilling 11-10 victory.

Keko Magrini and Lucas Escobar celebrate a goal for Santa Clara. ©Alex Pacheco

Conceding one goal on handicap, Santa Clara quickly erased the deficit, marching downfield from a knock-in to tie the game at 1-1 on a goal from Lucas Escobar. Beverly Polo controlled play throughout the rest of the opening chukker by producing four shots at goal but converted just one along with one goal from the penalty line to hold the 3-1 advantage. The continued pressure of Beverly Polo extended their lead further, led by the efforts of two field goals from Alberdi in his best game of the season so far. A penalty 4 conversion for Keko Magrini ignited some momentum for Santa Clara as they pulled within one on Luis Escobar’s first goal of the game. Ocampo edged Beverly Polo back ahead by two to end the first half with his team holding the 6-4 lead.

Beverly Polo‘s Tolito Ocampo was named Most Valuable Player. ©Alex Pacheco

Missing just one shot in the first half, Santa Clara carried their accurate shooting into the second half while generating more opportunities at goal, helping them bring the game even. Luis and Lucas Escobar combined for three goals in the fourth chukker, turning a two-goal deficit into a tied 7-7 score with two chukkers remaining. The game moved to the penalty line over the final two chukkers as the hard-fought game resulted in six penalty attempts between the two teams in the final stages. Relying on their two young players, Santa Clara remained even with Beverly Polo on conversions from Lucas Escobar and Keko Magrini, while Beverly Polo’s Ocampo scored from the field and the penalty line, leaving the game deadlocked at 9-9. As the clock ticked down, Ocampo converted a crucial penalty 4, leaving Beverly Polo just minutes from their second victory, but with seconds left Santa Clara was sent to the penalty line with an opportunity to send the game into overtime. The initial penalty attempt from Lucas Escobar went wide but was tipped in front of goal. Jumping on the loose ball, Keko Magrini sent the game into overtime on the thrilling final play.

Matias Magrini’s Don Ercole Elite captured Best Playing Pony. ©Alex Pacheco

Withstanding an early Beverly Polo attack, Santa Clara hit a long pass downfield to start an open run to goal. Fighting a bouncing ball, Santa Clara left the ball in front of goal and it was Keko Magrini who came through in the clutch for the second time, sending a shot through the goal and securing the 11-10 overtime victory for Santa Clara. For his four-goal performance, Ocampo was awarded Most Valuable Player while Matias Magrini’s Don Ercole Elite captured Best Playing Pony.

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Wellington, FL – January 6, 2021 – Facing each other just days after competing for the Bobby Barry Cup, Palm Beach Equine and Beverly Polo kicked off play in the 2021 Joe Barry Memorial with a thrilling overtime match on the Isla Carroll East field at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Tolito Ocampo played the hero, converting the difficult nearside neck shot to secure the 12-11 victory for Beverly Polo.

Withstanding a run of six goals from Palm Beach Equine in the middle of the game, Beverly Polo received a strong contribution from Hilario Figueras, who finished with five goals, four of which came from the penalty line, in the thrilling victory. Palm Beach Equine had their opportunities to take the victory, shooting an efficient 69 percent on 13 shots, but were kept on the defensive in the final stages of the game due to the relentless pressure of Beverly Polo. Playing exceptionally in the #1 position, a crucial goal from Bill Ballhaus helped force overtime, where Beverly Polo quickly forced Palm Beach Equine into a foul that ultimately led to the game-winning goal from Ocampo.

Quickly extending their two-goal lead on handicap, Beverly Polo raced out of the gate receiving a field goal from Ocampo and penalty 2 conversion from Figueras to hold a 4-0 advantage. Following up his MVP performance from Sunday, Gringo Colombres brought Palm Beach Equine back into the game, scoring two goals while also receiving a foul that resulted in a Costi Caset penalty conversion. Finding their stride, Palm Beach Equine began to pressure Beverly Polo, but foul trouble, including two blocking infractions, allowed Beverly Polo to push their lead to three at 7-4. The momentum of the game changed at the end of the first half due to missed opportunities from Beverly Polo and perfect 3-for-3 shooting from Palm Beach Equine, receiving one goal each from Caset, Colombres, and Robbie Bilbao, to tie the score at 7-7 entering halftime.

Tolito Ocampo helped convert a difficult nearside neck shot to secure the victory for Beverly Polo. ©Alex Pacheco

The duo of Caset and Colombres continued to be effective for the Palm Beach Equine attack, combining for two goals in the fourth chukker for their first lead of the game. Completing a run of six unanswered goals, Palm Beach Equine had their sights set on their second consecutive victory to open the season. Figueras ended the run, receiving a penalty 1 for Beverly Polo, but they remained trailing by one with two chukkers remaining. Making a significant impact, Ballhaus completed a long run for his first goal of the game and quickly followed that up with an important goal in the sixth chukker, giving Beverly Polo the 11-10 lead with time running out. Caset responded with his fourth goal to tie the score and with a chance to win the game, sent a penalty 3 attempt wide, pushing the game into overtime.

Receiving an early foul, Beverly Polo held possession in the attacking half and on a determined run to goal, it was Ocampo that jumped on the loose ball, sending a tough nearside neck shot just inside the post to secure the exciting 12-11 victory for Beverly Polo. Play resumes on Sunday at 3 p.m. on the Home of the U.S. Polo Assn – Field 1, with Beverly Polo facing Santa Clara.

Beverly Polo defeated Palm Beach Equine to win the first game of the Joe Barry Memorial. ©Alex Pacheco

Click here to view the full 2021 High Goal Polo Schedule.

Click here to learn more about the Club.

Click here to learn more about the GAUNTLET OF POLO®.

www.internationalpoloclub.com