2023 USPA Governor's Cup

Congratulations to BTA for winning the 2023 USPA Governor's Cup!

MVP: Joao Aranha, pictured with Ava Seward and Carty Krueger

BPP: Rubia, played and owned by Ignacio Saenz, pictured with groom Christian Gomez

​Final Score:
BTA (9) def La Portola (7)

Winning Team: BTA
(L to R) KC Krueger, Uma Villanueva, Joao Aranha, Jimmy Seward 
(not pictured: Chrys Beal)

---

Congratulations to Piney Woods Polo for winning the Subsidiary Final!

Final Score:
Piney Woods Polo def Shooting Iron Ranches def Island Time Polo/Plank Companies
PW (3.5) def ITP/PC (2)
ITP/PC (4) def SIR (2.5)
​PW (4) def SIR (1)

Winning Team: Piney Woods Polo
(L to R) Marit Stout, Grace Mudra, Drew Luplow, Jack Kiely

Welcome to the 2023 USPA Governor's Cup! We have 11 teams playing in our first 6 goal tournament of the season! 

Tournament Format
Group A: Bracket 1 plays cross bracket with Bracket 2
- Bracket 1: 3 teams
- Bracket 2: 3 teams
Group B: Bracket 3 plays cross bracket with Bracket 4
- Bracket 3: 3 teams
- Bracket 4: 2 teams

Semifinal Pairings
 - After Bracket play, teams will be ranked 1-11 based on win percentages, top 4 win percentages overall advance to the semifinals.  For the semifinal pairings, if possible, teams will play a team they have not yet played. Otherwise, percentage #1 vs percentage  #4, percentage  #2 vs percentage  #3.

Tied Percentages for Semifinals
 - In case of elimination from the top 4 spots, teams will shootout
 - In case of seeding, teams will draw for placement

Subsidiary Semifinals:
​ - The remaining 7 teams will advance to the Subsidiary Tournament:
Gm 1: Team 1 vs Team 2
Gm 2: Team 3 vs Team 4
Gm 3: Team 5 vs Team 6 vs Team 7
Subsidiary Semifinal Pairings
Pairings will be based on teams that have not yet played each other, or if necessary we will draw for who plays who.
 - The 3 winning teams will play a Round Robin final for the Subsidiary Tournament 

**All tied records & tied game rules, and round robin rules are at the bottom of the page**

*Reminders**
 - Games will be played on handicaps
 - Spare changes at end lines only
 - All players are required to wear a helmet that passes the NOCSAE ND050 Standard Performance Specification
 - All players must have USPA Dues paid
https://www.uspolo.org/association/membership
 - All players must have signed a HPC release form for this year
://houstonpoloclub.com/hpc-release-form/
 - Emergency Information form
https://houstonpoloclub.com/emergency-info/
- Anyone on horseback must wear a helmet (spareholders, grooms, etc)
 - Please keep dogs on leashes at all fields
 - Social Media Policy - HPC is a private club that is the tenant of a private club, and we maintain a modest and positive social media presence consistent with that posture. With that in mind, we ask that our polo members respect each other's privacy and refrain from posting images of fellow members who do not wish to be publicized, or that risk the reputation of the club or its affiliates.

GROUP A
Bracket 1
A. Brown Bears / Schiffer Hicks Johnson LLC ​(0,3)
B. Island Time Polo / Plank Companies (1,2)
C. Shooting Iron Ranches (0,3)

Bracket 2
D. Piney Woods Polo (2,1)
E. BTA (3,0)
F.  C-Bar Thoroughbreds / Patagonia Grill (3,0)

GROUP B
Bracket 3
G. Pegasus (1,1)
H. San Pedro Ranch / Sullivan Group (1,1)
I. La Portola (2,0)

Bracket 4
J. Roxstars (2,1)
K. BCI / CW Petroleum (0,3)

SCHEDULE
Thursday September 14
All Thursday 6 Goal Games CANCELLED
San Pedro Ranch/Sullivan Group vs *Roxstars
Shooting Iron Ranches vs *C-Bar Thoroughbreds/Patagonia Grill
*Brown Bears/Schiffer Hicks Johnson LLC  vs BTA
*Pegasus vs BCI/CW Petroleum
​*Island Time Polo/Plank Companies vs *Piney Woods Polo

Saturday September 16
STILL ON
*La Portola (10.5) def *Roxstars (6)
10:00am @ Horsegate
Umps: K. Huddleston / H. Galindo
Timer: C. Williams
*Please bring 1 ump horse

STILL ON
*San Pedro Ranch/Sullivan Group (7) def *BCI/CW Petroleum (6.5)
11:00am @ Horsegate
Umps: K. Huddleston / H. Galindo
Timer: C. Williams
*Please bring 1 ump horse

STILL ON
*BTA (7) def *​Shooting Iron Ranches (5.5)
11:00am @ HPC - Flanders
Umps: E. Ezcurra / M. Pascual
Timer: E. Markell
*Please bring 1 ump horse

CANCELLED
*Island Time Polo/Plank Companies vs C-Bar Thoroughbreds/Patagonia Grill
10:00am @ Coushatta
Umps: H. Galindo /  R. Orthwein
Timer: E. Tooth
*Please bring 1 ump horse

CANCELLED
Brown Bears/Schiffer Hicks Johnson LLC vs *Piney Woods Polo
11:00am @ Coushatta
Umps: H. Galindo / B. Middleton
Timer: E. Tooth
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Tuesday September 19
BTA (6) def *Brown Bears/Schiffer Hicks Johnson LLC (3.5)  
5:00pm @ Pecan Acres
Umps: E. Ezcurra / M. Villanueva
Timer: E. Tooth
*Please bring 1 ump horse

*C-Bar Thoroughbreds/Patagonia Grill (7) def Shooting Iron Ranches (5.5)
6:00pm @ Pecan Acres
Umps: E. Ezcurra / J. Seward
Timer: E. Tooth
*Please bring 1 ump horse

*Pegasus (8) def BCI/CW Petroleum (2.5)
5:00pm @ Horsegate
Umps: M. Pascual / N. Galindo
Timer: C. Williams
*Please bring 1 ump horse

*Roxstars (4.5) def San Pedro Ranch/Sullivan Group (4)
6:00pm @ Horsegate
Umps: M. Pascual / C. Bowman
Timer: C. Williams
*Please bring 1 ump horse

​*Island Time Polo/Plank Companies (5) def *Piney Woods Polo (4.5)
5:30pm @ HPC - Flanders
Umps: A. Wade / K. Huddleston
Timer:  J. Tasdemir
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Thursday September 21
*C-Bar Thoroughbreds/Patagonia Grill (4) def Brown Bears/Schiffer Hicks Johnson LLC (3.5)
​5:00pm @ Coushatta
Umps: M. Pascual / T. Alberdi
Timer: E. Tooth
*Please bring 1 ump horse

*BTA (8) def Island Time Polo/Plank Companies (3)
​6:00pm @ Coushatta
Umps: M. Pascual / B. Mudra
Timer: E. Tooth
*Please bring 1 ump horse

*Roxstars (5) def Pegasus (2.5)
​5:00pm @ BPC - #3
Umps: K. Huddleston / C. Bowman
Timer: C. Williams
*Please bring 1 ump horse

*La Portola (6) def BCI/CW Petroleum (2.5)
6:00pm @ BPC - #3
Umps: K. Huddleston / M. Wroe
Timer: C. Williams
*Please bring 1 ump horse

​*Piney Woods Polo (5) def *Shooting Iron Ranches (3.5) 
6:00pm @ Pecan Acres
Umps: E. Ezcurra / A. Wade
Timer: E. Markell
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Saturday September 23
​*C-Bar Thoroughbreds/Patagonia Grill (10) def *Island Time Polo/Plank Companies (6)
10:00am @ Wharton
Umps: A. Wade /  M. Pascual
Timer: K. Krueger
*Please bring 1 ump horse

*Piney Woods Polo (7) def *Brown Bears/Schiffer Hicks Johnson LLC (4.5)
11:00am @ Wharton
Umps: A. Wade / M. Pascual
Timer: K. Krueger
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Shootout if needed in Wharton following Games
Shootout Results:
1. Roxstars 
2. Piney Woods Polo

Match Game
*Pegasus (6.5) def San Pedro Ranch/Sullivan Group (4)
10:00am @ Pegasus
Ump: K. Huddleston
Timer: C. Williams
*Please bring 1 ump horse

​Match Game
Shooting Iron Ranches (5.5) def *BCI/CW Petroleum (3)
11:00am @ Pegasus
Ump: K. Huddleston
Timer: C. Williams
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Thursdays September 28
Semifinal 1
*La Portola (3.5) def C-Bar Thoroughbreds/Patagonia Grill (3)
4:45pm @ BPC - #2
Umps: K. Huddleston / N. Cifuni
3rd Man: J. Kiely
Timer: E. Tooth
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Sub Semifinal 1
*Piney Woods Polo (5.5) def San Pedro Ranch/Sullivan Group (4)
5:45pm @ BPC - #2
Umps:  K. Huddleston / V. Miller Jr.
Timer: E. Tooth
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Semifinal 2
*BTA (5) def Roxstars (4)
4:45pm @ Horsegate
Umps: M. Pascual / H. Tejera
3rd Man: M. Wroe
Timer: K. Wroe
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Sub Semifinal 2
Shooting Iron Ranches (5) def *Pegasus (4)
5:45pm  @ Horsegate
​Umps: M. Pascual / S. Rice
Timer: K. Wroe
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Sub Semifinal 3 (Round Robin)
*Island Time Polo/Plank Companies  def *Brown Bears/Schiffer Hicks Johnson def **BCI/CW Petroleum
ITP/PC (3) def BB/SHJ (1.5)
BB/SHJ (6) def BCI/CWP (1.5)
ITP/PC (4) def BCI/CWP (0.5)
5:15pm @ Pecan Acres
​Umps: E. Ezcurra / P. Blake
Timer: C. Williams
​*Please bring 1 ump horse

Saturday September 30
​Governor's Cup Final
*BTA (9) def  *La Portola (7)
10:00am  @ BPC - #1
​Umps: M. Pascual / K. Huddleston 
3rd Man: N. Galindo
Timer: K. Wroe
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Match Game
*Pegasus vs San Pedro Ranch/Sullivan Group
11:00am @ BPC - #1
Ump: K. Huddleston 
Timer: K. Wroe
*Please bring 1 ump horse

Match Game Round Robin
*C-Bar Thoroughbreds/Patagonia Grill  vs *Roxstars vs BCI/CW Petroleum
10:00am @ Coushatta
Umps: E. Ezcurra
Timer: E. Tooth
​*Please bring 1 ump horse

Subsidiary Final Round Robin
*Piney Woods Polo def *Shooting Iron Ranches def **Island Time Polo/Plank Companies
PW (3.5) def ITP/PC (2)
ITP/PC (4) def SIR (2.5)
​PW (4) def SIR (1)
10:00am @ Fulshear
Umps: P. Blake / N. Lezica
Timer: J. Tasdemir
​*Please bring 1 ump horse
(Make sure to fill water tanks in trailers, there is no water to wash horses at the field)

TEAMS
BCI / CW Petroleum
Cara Kennedy 0
Chris Williams  0.5
Chad Bowman 2
Rodrigo Salinas 3
Handicap -- 5.5

Brown Bears / Schiffer Hicks Johnson LLC
Will Brown  0
Logan Johnson  0
Billy Mudra  2
Robert Orthwein  4
Handicap -- 6

BTA
Chrys Beal  -0.5
Joao Aranha  1.5
KC Krueger  2
Jimmy Seward  3
Handicap -- 6

C-Bar Thoroughbreds / Patagonia Grill
Nick Dunbar  0
Carin Middleton  0
Vaughn Miller Jr.  3
Bryan Middleton  3
Handicap -- 6

Island Time Polo / Plank Companies
Michelle Agrons  -1
Kendall Plank  0
Joe Wayne Barry  3
Tommy Alberdi  4
Handicap -- 6

La Portola
Mark Urdahl  0
Will Mudra  0.5
Martin Munoz  2
Ignacio Saenz 3
Handicap -- 5.5

Pegasus
David Andras  0.5
Lily Lequerica  0.5
Joe Bob Lequerica  0.5
Mason Wroe  4
Handicap -- 5.5

Piney Woods Polo
Marit Stout  -1
Grace Mudra 0.5
Drew Luplow  2
Jack Kiely  4
Handicap -- 5.5

Roxstars
Roxy Mounter  -0.5
Anson Moore  1
Sloan Stefanakis  1.5
Shane Rice  4
Handicap -- 6

San Pedro Ranch / Sullivan Group
*Joe Fitzsimons  0
Joanie Jackson  0
Nicolai Galindo  3
Nick Cifuni  3
Handicap -- 6
*Tiffany Orthwein  0

Shooting Iron Ranches
Tomas Tejera  -1
Charles Fridge  0
Hernan Tejera  2
Marcos Villanueva  4
Handicap -- 5

Tied Games
If team handicaps indicate the possibility for a tied game, teams will be asked prior to the match for either a shoot out or overtime. If both teams cannot agree, then teams will do a shootout.
 -- Tied Game Shoot outs will follow USPA Rulebook Rule 14.d
 -- Rule 14.d: Each player, alternating teams, will shoot Penalty 3s. After all players have hit, the teams with more points is declared the winner.  Should a tie remain, ALL PLAYERS will hit again, however the team which hit first will now hit second.
 - Overtime will follow USPA Rulebook Rule 14c, first goal wins.

In case of elimination shootouts:
 -- 1 player from each team will shoot
 -- Shootout time and location is TBD and will be determined by the HTC

Round Robin Tied Game Rules:
Should any 2 chukker game result in a tie, the winner shall be determined by the shootout procedure in USPA Outdoor Rule 14.d  (players shoot penalty 3s only) except that only 1 player from each of the tied teams will shoot.  The shootout will take place immediately following the game between the 2 tied teams.

Round Robin Rules:
The winner of the Round Robin is the team with the best won-lost record.  In the event of a won/lost tie at the end of the Round Robin, the order of finish will be determined using the following method: 
1. Based on net goals
2. If net goals is inconclusive, then gross goals 
3. Lastly, the “shoot out” procedure set forth in USPA Outdoor Rule 14.d, if both net goals and gross goals are inconclusive

​​OUTDOOR RULE 2a: Substitutions
(i) If during bracket a game of a tournament, a player is hurt DURING a game, a player (with equal or lesser handicap) in the same tournament can finish the game. BUT for all games following, only eligible substitutes (players not in the tournament) can sub. This will apply to players with handicaps from B to 10 goals to help teams when they are playing on remote fields. 

(ii) After bracket play, so either in Quarterfinals, Semifinals or Finals, if a player is injured or ill and can't start or becomes injured during game, an eliminated player of equal or lesser handicap may substitute for that game and/or the remainder of the tournament. An eliminated player is someone who has completed their final game in that tournament.

OUTDOOR RULE 14.b (the Buzzer Beater)
b.(i) A ball hit prior to the second bell or horn, and prior to the Umpires’ whistle(s) officially ending the period, may count as a goal if it is not touched by an opponent or a teammate of the player hitting the ball and it rolls or flies between the goal posts (a “Buzzer-Beater)”.

(ii) If any player on either team touches a potential "Buzzer-Beater" with their mallet, body, or horse, the whistle is blown and the ball is dead at the spot of the whistle

(iii) If a foul occurs after a potential "Buzzer Beater" is hit, a whistle will be blown, and if a penalty is called, it will be played out at the beginning of the next period

(iv) In the final period or OT period, if a foul occurs while a "Buzzer-Beater" shot is live, and a penalty is called, then the penalty will be played out immediately, and 5 seconds will be added to the clock.