Santa Rita Abierto

In a four-chukker lightning-abbreviated game, Dutta Corp defeated Sebucan, 7-4, in the championship final of the Santa Rita Abierto on Sunday.

Dutta Corp (Timmy Dutta, Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Piki Diaz Alberdi, Alex Webb) qualified for the final with 7-4 wins over Altair Polo (Ashley Busch, Moritz Gaedeke, Brandon Phillips, Kris Kampsen) and Deeridge (Will Jacobs, Grant Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Ezequiel Ferrario) in the opening nine-chukker round robin on Friday.

Sebucan (Josh Dubarry, Pablo Pulido, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Julio Gracida) advanced into the final with a hardfought 13-12 victory over Hidden Creek (Marc Ganzi, Sean Keys, Pablo Dorignac, Jesse Bray).

Dutta, 16, coming off a successful 20-goal season, was named Most Valuable Player.

Under foreboding skies, the well-matched teams played evenly in the first two chukkers. In the opening chukker, the teams tied 1-1 on goals from Piki Diaz Alberdi, a 60-yard penalty conversion, and Novillo Astrada from the field.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada of Sebucan attempts to hook Piki Alberdi of Dutta Corp.

The second chukker was also played evenly at 2-2 with goals from Piki Diaz Alberdi and Webb for Dutta Corp and Novillo Astrada on a 30-yard penalty and Gracida.

Dutta Corp pulled away with a 5-4 advantage in the third chukker with back-to-back goals from Lucas Diaz Alberdi. Dutta Corp never trailed after that.

With rain falling and thunder in the background, the teams got in one final chukker before lightning forced the game to be abbreviated after four chukkers. Timmy Dutta and Webb scored the final two goals for a 2-0 advantage in the fourth and final chukker.

Dutta Corp got balanced scoring with Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Piki Diaz Alberdi and Webb each scoring two goals and Dutta added one goal. Novillo Astrada led Sebucan with three and Gracida added one.

At 12, Josh Dubarry of Sebucan was the youngest player in the two-day tournament and plans to play the entire spring season.

Dutta Corp came in as two-time defending champion. In 2016, as a 15-goal team Dutta Corp won the 16-goal rated tournament with Matias Magrini, Carlitos and Mariano Gracida and Timmy Dutta. 

Hidden Creek, first-time winners at Grand Champions, with Marc Ganzi, Jesse Bray, Pablo Dorignac and Sean Keys.

Last year a talented 11-goal team of Tim Dutta, Timmy Dutta, Piki Diaz Alberdi and Carlitos Gracida won the 14-goal tournament with an impressive 12-5 victory over Whitehall Ranch.

In the opening Grand Champions Cup, also on Sunday, Beaverton, Ore.-based Hidden Creek won its Grand Champions debut in the subsidiary round robin. Hidden Creek defeated Deeridge, 5-2, led by Dorignac’s game-high three goals, and tied Altair Polo, 4-4. In the other game, Deeridge edged Altair Polo, 6-5, on Ferrario’s game-winner.

Sean Keys of Hidden Creek Polo Club was named Most Valuable Player.

The Santa Rita Abierto is the first of six tournaments in what is expected to be the best spring season in the club’s eleven-year history. This weekend the USPA Eastern Challenge will be on tap.

Several top and up-and-coming players and patrons will compete during the fun and competitive GCPC Spring Invitational League that features six 12-16-goal tournaments in April and May.