Boca Polo's redemption
Jack Oxley's team finally goes from underdog to top dog after a five-year USPA Gold Cup drought.

By Peter Rizzo

Charlie Muldoon, left, with Juan Bollini, was celebrating a polo victory and a victory over cancer.

Florida is a tropical paradise, an unsurpassed paradise in the winter months, especially for polo players looking for great fields and pleasant weather. The 2001 winter polo season was especially warm and dry for almost all of the South Florida clubs. Maybe a little too dry. As a matter of fact, there was a downright drought throughout Florida that, according to the National Weather Service, comes along only once in a hundred years.

The Boca Polo team knows a little something about a drought of a different kind. Ever since the 26-goal USPA Gold Cup was played at their home club of Royal Palm Polo Sports Club, they have not been able to quench their thirst for a win in this most prestigious event. Boca's record since 1996, when the Cup moved to Royal Palm, was a winless one, year after year. Yet each year, led by team owner Jack Oxley and team captain Joey Casey, the Boca Polo team tried different combinations of horses and players to no avail. In 2000, Boca was within two goals of earning the right to play in the Gold Cup final. There, dreams melted away when they lost two playoff games, each match by one goal. One game was lost in the final seconds, the other in overtime. The yearning for a win prevailed, but the dry spell continued unabated until this year. Eventually, rain will end a drought, and Boca Polo would win a Gold Cup game. Both of these events happened in the month of March in the year 2001.
The USPA Gold Cup began February 28 with eight teams entering the tournament. At the draw, two divisions were created. Division I comprised Outback Polo, Jedi, Templeton Polo and Everglades Polo. Division II had Broward Yachts, Coca-Cola, Boca Polo and Pony Express. On the opening afternoon of the tournament, favored Outback, led by Adolfo Cambiaso's six goals defeated Erich Koch's Jedi team 14-6. In the second game of the day, Everglades, led by Tommy Biddle's seven goals, defeated Mike Price's Templeton team 13-11. It was evident in both games that pony power would make the difference in the high-goal event. Outback was clearly prepared to play at top speed, with many of the other teams needing a game to get their ponies into a higher gear.

The following day had more polo action as Bob Daniels' Pony Express team lost 9-8 to the all-professional Boca Polo. Juan Bollini was the hero of the match after he converted a Penalty 6 with 11 seconds left in regulation time. Just like that, the winless streak was finally over for Boca Polo. It was apparent that the Boca team was fully prepared to make the hometown crowd happy. Pony Express, who was favored, almost had enough to win. Bautista Heguy, who astounded spectators with his amazing ball control, scored four goals for Pony Express and made the game interesting right up until the end.
Later that afternoon, a well-mounted Coca-Cola soundly defeated Glen Straub's Broward Yachts team 13-8. Miguel Astrada, playing a strong Back position, scored five goals to lead the way for Coca-Cola. Mike Azzaro scored five in a losing cause, yet it was Cali Garcia who played an excellent game and led his team with his outstanding play. Straub showed excellent eye-hand coordination by blocking the ball out of the air during several Coca-Cola penalty attempts. By the end of this game, all eight teams played in the period of two days. Many felt that Outback was a clear favorite to win the Gold Cup. Outback had the organization, the ponies and Adolfo Cambiaso, arguably the best player in the world. Sometimes, having all those favorable elements does not guarantee a place in the final.

Joey Casey, left, and his horse say "Oh no you don't!" to Bautista Heguy.

Anything can happen in a polo tournament, and the first surprise of this event was Outback losing a March 3 overtime game to an upstart Templeton team led by 9-goal player Adam Snow. Outback led all the way into the middle of the fourth period, then remained tied with Templeton at 8 at the end of the fifth. Santiago Chevanne and Fabio Diniz scored a goal each to make the score 10-8. Things looked grim for Templeton, facing the best player in the world with but minutes left in the match. True grit prevailed as Adam Snow scored his game-high fifth goal just moments before Tiger Kneece converted a Penalty 6 to send the game into overtime. Only 9 seconds elapsed in overtime before a tough Tiger Kneece scored to send Outback home without a win. Division I was now up for grabs with Templeton holding on the tightest.

In the second game of the day, Jedi upset a strong Everglades team, the same Everglades team that defeated Templeton just days before. Luis Escobar scored five to lead all scorers in a game that was tied into the fifth period. Jedi capitalized on a 9-8 lead going into the sixth by scoring the next three goals, but not before cagey veteran Owen Rinehart scored one to tie the game at 9. A lone Penalty 4 conversion by strongman Tommy Biddle made the final score 12-10. All teams in Division I stood at 1-1 and, with a little help from other teams, could move on into the final round after the final set of games played March 7.

Meanwhile, in Division II, Boca Polo was fast establishing itself as the team to beat, especially after an 8-7 March 4 victory over Broward Yachts. Charlie Muldoon and Juan Bollini each scored three goals in a game that was not in doubt until the sixth period. With Boca Polo leading 7-5, American sensation Mike Azzaro turned it on to score two goals with a minute and a half to go. Both teams had opportunities to score, but time ran out and the game went into overtime. Back on fresh ponies, the game galloped on for nearly 5 minutes before Bollini scored to give Boca Polo their second, last-minute victory.

Gillian Johnston's Coca-Cola was also a strong contender in Division II, and they proved it by beating a determined Pony Express team 11-10. With both teams tied at 4 at the half, it was Pony Express scoring four goals to two for Coca-Cola. Pony Express was able to hold the lead into the fifth, but goals by brothers Javier and Miguel Astrada and one by up and coming star Jeff Hall gave Coke a 10-9 lead into the sixth. Eight-goal player Argentine Alex Agote scored a goal to tie, but the game winner was scored on a difficult cutshot by Johnston. Bautista Heguy and Jeff Hall shared high scoring honors with five each.

Division I was ready for the taking on March 7 as Chris Gannon's Outback team took on Skeeter Johnston's Everglades team. Fabio Diniz exploded for three first period goals to lead his Outback team to a 7-2 half-time score. Everglades was out of sync and almost out of the game until they rallied late in the second half. Closing to within three in the fifth, Everglades was able to make a game of it with three last-period scores from speedy Tomas Llorente. Adolfo Cambiaso's lone score in the sixth was enough to keep the score close, but in his team's favor at 11-9. Llorente's seven goals led all players.

Juan Badiola of the winning Boca Polo team winds up with Templeton's Michael Price in pursuit.

Later that same day, Templeton took on Jedi, knowing that Outback had just advanced to a 2-1 record. This made it imperative for Templeton to win to equal their record at 2-1. The tie-breaker would go to Templeton by virtue of their stunning win over Outback on March 3. Unfortunately, Jedi needed Everglades to win the earlier match to give Jedi a chance at reaching the final. Jedi played for pride and played one of the better games of the tournament.

The teams stayed close, with Templeton on top at the half, 6-5. Tiger Kneece and Adam Snow were playing inspired polo, with Marcos Heguy shining brightly for Jedi. The teams were tied at seven going into the fifth, with Templeton scoring three to Jedi's two to give Templeton a 10-9 lead into the final period. Jedi was not ready to quit, however, as Benjamin Araya and Heguy scored successive goals to give Jedi a late lead. Suddenly, Ruben Sola was knocked from his horse and from the game by teammate Snow. Jaime Huidobro was yanked from the stands and filled in admirably. Not to be outdone by the masterful Jedi field goals in the sixth period, Kneece and Snow each scored to give Templeton not only the 12-11 win but the right to meet the winner of the Coca-Cola vs. Boca Polo contest in the final.

On the following day, Broward Yachts lost to Pony Express 11-5. Bautista Heguy once again played a great game of keep away with the other team as he scored seven goals to lead his Pony Express team to an early 6-3 half-time lead. Then things got ugly for Broward through the fourth and fifth periods as Pony Express built their lead to an insurmountable 10-4 before a stalwart Cali Garcia scored the last Broward Yacht goal of the game. Alex Agote played well at back and added three goals to the Pony Express total.

Later the same day, a large crowd gathered to watch what was essentially the semi-final, winner-take-all game to decide who advanced to the final from Division I. Boca Polo was clearly the underdog for this match, but many had to admire the way Boca Polo won their first two games in dramatic style. Coca-Cola's Javier Astrada made it quite clear that his team was not taking the Boca boys lightly as he scored three first-half goals to go along with a handicap goal and a lone score from Gillian Johnston. The Boca Polo team members each scored a goal in the first half, with Joey Casey scoring an extra goal to make the first half score stand at 5-all.

The second was the best half game of polo of the entire tournament. The fourth period was all Coca-Cola as Javier scored his game-high fourth goal. A well-mounted Jeff Hall added one to make the score 7-5 going into the fifth period. Four goals were scored in the fifth as Juan Bollini scored the first two to tie the game at seven. Hall and Miguel Astrada scored the next two goals to give Coca-Cola a comfortable two-goal lead going into the final seven minutes. In those seven minutes it was Charlie Muldoon and Juan Badiola each scoring one to send the 9-9 game into extra time. After nearly 4 minutes of fast, hardnosed polo action, it was Juan Badiola who scored a Penalty 2 to make the seemingly impossible happen. For the first time ever, Boca Polo would be going to the final of the Gold Cup. Immediately after the match, the Boca Polo team coach, Hall of Famer Tommy Wayman, was overheard to say, "In all of their games, these Boca boys did not realize they were beaten Sometimes, that's a good thing."

The final game of the USPA Gold Cup was played March 11 before a sold-out stadium, filled with enthusiastic polo fans. Many spectators missed the first period or two of the game due to long lines of cars waiting to enter the beautifully manicured grounds of the Royal Palm Polo Sports Club in Boca Raton, Florida. Umpires for the match were Gene Fortugno and Horton Schwartz, and Rick Sears was the third man in the stands. Playing for the dark-blue clad Templeton team were Ruben Sola (8), Tiger Kneece (7), Adam Snow (9) and team sponsor Mike Price (2). Hall of Famer Red Armour was the Templeton coach. Wearing the yellow jerseys were Charlie Muldoon (6), Juan Badiola (7), Juan Bollini (7) and team captain Joey Casey (6). The Boca Polo team sponsor was club owner Jack Oxley (1) who had played the past two years with Badiola, Bollini and Casey in the USPA Sunshine League.

The weather was just about perfect as the two teams lined up for the first throw in. Announcing the game was Tom Oxley, club co-owner and longtime voice of Royal Palm Polo. Both teams played conservatively in the first period, with no one individual playing with any distinction. The first and only goal of the period came on a Badiola conversion of a Penalty 2. In the following period, it was another Penalty 2 conversion, this time by Templeton's Snow. Juan Bollini added a goal via a converted Penalty 5 from 100 yards away from goal. The Templeton team drew far too many umpire whistles for their own good, but Boca Polo could not capitalize significantly on these free shots at goal.

Adam Snow, left, goes for the hook against Tomas Llorente.

The third began with more fouls committed by a hectic Templeton team. Joey Casey managed to convert a Penalty 2 to give his team the early period lead. Not to be outdone, Kneece converted a Penalty 4 and Snow a Penalty 3 to tie the match. The first field goal of the game was scored late in the third period by Snow, closing out the scoring at 4-3 in favor of the favorites, Templeton. Snow continued his field goal scoring, making his fourth goal of the game in the fourth. Badiola answered Snow with another Penalty 2 conversion to make the score 5-4 at the end of the period. Both teams stressed team play and passing to the open man. On this day, Boca Polo was doing a better job of finding the open man, yet they could not convert long runs into goals placed on the scoreboard.

Sometimes, games can be won or lost in any given period. The fifth period of the 2001 Gold Cup belonged to the Boca Polo team. In each of their previous matches, the fifth was Boca's period of decision. Juan Bollini, playing his best polo in years, scored two field goals before Badiola converted his third Penalty 2. Bollini scored a third goal to close out the period, putting Templeton in a most difficult position. But the real key to the fifth period was the defensive work of team captain Casey. Time after time, backshot after backshot, hook after hook, Casey worked hard to prevent Templeton from getting near his goal. Defensive work is sometimes not pretty, but it does win polo games.

Casey's defensive strategy continued into the sixth period. Snow, however, was able to convert a Penalty 2 to give Templeton some hope at the short end of an 8-6 score. Casey retaliated by scoring a goal of his own after a long, controlled run to place the ball between the uprights. Teammate Muldoon followed Casey's example to score the final goal of the game, making it a 10-6 Boca Polo win. Throughout the tournament, Muldoon played a smart No. 1 and was extremely well mounted. This game was especially sweet for Muldoon, who had spent the past year battling cancer. The Gold Cup victory marked his triumphant return to the sport and to high goal polo.

The end of the match was prize time. USPA Executive Director David Cummings was on hand to award the winning gold trophies to the proud but tired Boca Polo team. The Templeton team, with heads held high, were presented consolation gifts, courtesy of Tiffany's and John and Dina Boyer. Adam Snow's favorite horse Hale-Bopp, played in the fourth period, earned the Best Playing Pony honors. The Most Valuable Player award was presented to Joey Casey for his second half heroics. For his valiant effort, he received a tall pewter trophy as well as a $4,500 watch from Cartier.

Said Casey after the game: "Got to give a lot of credit to Jack Oxley for allowing us to put this all-pro team together. Another important thank you goes to our coach Tommy Wayman, who encouraged us not to ever give up. Having him on our side made the difference in those tight games."

Even in a tropical paradise such as Florida, a drought or two will come along. People begin to wish for rain, but before too long, rain will begin to fall, quenching all dry, barren thoughts. For the Boca Polo team, they did more than wish for an end to their long dry spell of winless Gold Cups. They planned, worked as a team, were patient and maybe earned a little bit of luck, winning the prestigious Gold Cup in fine style on their home turf on the east coast of paradise.