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WELLINGTON — Catamount held off Zapican BMW to capture the Ylvisaker Cup with a 13-12 victory Feb. 22 at National Polo Center's windswept U.S. Polo Assn Field One.
In an emotional game, Scott Devon, Mia Cambiaso, Santi Torres and 10-goaler Poroto Cambiaso led for most of the game to finish the 15-team tournament undefeated at 7-0. Zapican BMW finished 5-2.
"This one was for your mom," Poroto Cambiaso told Devon after the game. Devon missed the semifinals after his mother, Nancy Devon, died from heart failure at age 85 in Naples.
More polo: Victory Polo/Eastern Hay defeats La Dolfina at US Open Women's Polo
"She loved polo and was here with my dad at the beginning of Palm Beach Polo in Wellington," said Devon, a longtime patron in the sport. "She is in polo heaven with all the other greats that have died. They are watching over us today. So many great memories."
In the late 1990s and early 2000, Catamount was one of the sport's top teams, featuring a pair of 10-goalers, Mike Azzaro and Carlos Gracida Sr. Devon, a second-generation polo player, won several 22- and 26-goal tournaments. He was 2004 USPA Amateur Player of the Year and raised to four goals.
In 2004, Catamount made it to the semifinals of the U.S. Open, narrowly missing the final with an overtime loss to White Birch. After a seven-year hiatus, Devon returned to polo in 2021.
Against Zapican BMW's foursome of Max Torokvei, Costi Caset, Facundo Llosa and Felipe Viana, Catamount had four-goal leads in the fourth (10-6), fifth (11-7) and sixth (13-9) chukkers. Zapican BMW reeled them in and cut the lead to one with 1:20 left in the game. Llosa then converted a 30-yard penalty and Caset connected with Llosa on a great pass to score with 33 seconds left but ran out of time.
"It was a tough game but our team is resilient and they all play with amazing ability," Devon said. "Zapican BMW was outstanding. I'm sure we're probably going to see them again. They are a really tough team and I feel fortunate to win."
Torres, who played well above his 5-goal handicap rating, was Most Valuable Player. Torres scored a team-high seven goals, including five penalty conversions. He was 100 percent in penalty shots for the tournament.
Dolfina Alula, played by Poroto Cambiaso in the fifth chukker and owned by La Dolfina, was the USPA Best Playing Pony. DS Altamira, played by Mia Cambiaso in the second and sixth chukkers, and also owned by La Dolfina, was the Argentine Best Playing Pony.
Llosa scored a game-high 11 goals, including five penalty conversions. Mia Cambiaso and Poroto Cambiaso each had three goals.
In the semifinals, Zapican BMW advanced with a 10-7 win over Flying H and Catamount edged Kaia, 11-10, in a game where Hope Arellano replaced Devon and Diego Cavanagh filled in for Adolfo Cambiaso.
"We had to do a little switching around but it's a dream team to play with both Adolfo and Poroto and we have Mia, so we have the whole family contributing," Devon said. "Polo is one big family. The organization is incredible. They are committed to polo 24-7. I feel very honored and it's a pleasure to have this in a later part of my career."
The Ylvisaker Cup, the second leg of the NPC 16-Goal Championship, is played annually as a tribute to polo pioneer William T. “Bill” Ylvisaker. He was responsible for developing the Wellington area into the high-goal winter polo capital of the world. Ylvisaker created the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 'This one was for your mom:' Catamount, Scott Devon win Ylvisaker Cup
Continue reading...
In an emotional game, Scott Devon, Mia Cambiaso, Santi Torres and 10-goaler Poroto Cambiaso led for most of the game to finish the 15-team tournament undefeated at 7-0. Zapican BMW finished 5-2.
"This one was for your mom," Poroto Cambiaso told Devon after the game. Devon missed the semifinals after his mother, Nancy Devon, died from heart failure at age 85 in Naples.
More polo: Victory Polo/Eastern Hay defeats La Dolfina at US Open Women's Polo
"She loved polo and was here with my dad at the beginning of Palm Beach Polo in Wellington," said Devon, a longtime patron in the sport. "She is in polo heaven with all the other greats that have died. They are watching over us today. So many great memories."
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In the late 1990s and early 2000, Catamount was one of the sport's top teams, featuring a pair of 10-goalers, Mike Azzaro and Carlos Gracida Sr. Devon, a second-generation polo player, won several 22- and 26-goal tournaments. He was 2004 USPA Amateur Player of the Year and raised to four goals.
In 2004, Catamount made it to the semifinals of the U.S. Open, narrowly missing the final with an overtime loss to White Birch. After a seven-year hiatus, Devon returned to polo in 2021.
Against Zapican BMW's foursome of Max Torokvei, Costi Caset, Facundo Llosa and Felipe Viana, Catamount had four-goal leads in the fourth (10-6), fifth (11-7) and sixth (13-9) chukkers. Zapican BMW reeled them in and cut the lead to one with 1:20 left in the game. Llosa then converted a 30-yard penalty and Caset connected with Llosa on a great pass to score with 33 seconds left but ran out of time.
"It was a tough game but our team is resilient and they all play with amazing ability," Devon said. "Zapican BMW was outstanding. I'm sure we're probably going to see them again. They are a really tough team and I feel fortunate to win."
Santi Torres plays well above 5-goal handicap to win MVP
Torres, who played well above his 5-goal handicap rating, was Most Valuable Player. Torres scored a team-high seven goals, including five penalty conversions. He was 100 percent in penalty shots for the tournament.
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Dolfina Alula, played by Poroto Cambiaso in the fifth chukker and owned by La Dolfina, was the USPA Best Playing Pony. DS Altamira, played by Mia Cambiaso in the second and sixth chukkers, and also owned by La Dolfina, was the Argentine Best Playing Pony.
Llosa scored a game-high 11 goals, including five penalty conversions. Mia Cambiaso and Poroto Cambiaso each had three goals.
In the semifinals, Zapican BMW advanced with a 10-7 win over Flying H and Catamount edged Kaia, 11-10, in a game where Hope Arellano replaced Devon and Diego Cavanagh filled in for Adolfo Cambiaso.
"We had to do a little switching around but it's a dream team to play with both Adolfo and Poroto and we have Mia, so we have the whole family contributing," Devon said. "Polo is one big family. The organization is incredible. They are committed to polo 24-7. I feel very honored and it's a pleasure to have this in a later part of my career."
The Ylvisaker Cup, the second leg of the NPC 16-Goal Championship, is played annually as a tribute to polo pioneer William T. “Bill” Ylvisaker. He was responsible for developing the Wellington area into the high-goal winter polo capital of the world. Ylvisaker created the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: 'This one was for your mom:' Catamount, Scott Devon win Ylvisaker Cup
Continue reading...
