Ketel One’s Athena Malin, Carter Nix, Stephanie Colburn, Joanie Jackson and Tiamo Hudspeth celebrate their U.S. Open Women’s Handicap victory.
Taking a Shot Ketel One Botanical captures U.S. Open Women’s Handicap By United States Polo Association • Photos by David Murrell
Overcoming 11 competitive teams in preliminary play, a semifinal injury and last-minute strategy and roster adjustments, Ketel One Botanical (Tiamo Hudspeth, Stephanie Massey Colburn, Carter Nix, Athena Malin, sub. Chloe Torres, sub. Joanie Jackson) persevered to reach the U.S. Open Women’s Handicap final hosted by Houston Polo Club in Houston, Texas. Losing Athena Malin early in the semifinal match, Ketel One Botanical pivoted with Chloe Torres, and narrowly prevented an overtime chukker on a Penalty 2 from Tiamo Hudspeth to advance. Switching gears with Joanie Jackson taking over for Torres in the final, Ketel One Botanical met T Squared Energy (Emma Tooth, Grace Parker, Carin Middleton, Kaile Roos) Nov. 13 at Brookshire Polo Club in Brookshire, 36 POLO P L A Y E R S E D I T I O N
Texas. Preventing their skilled opponents from making a single field goal throughout the duration of the final, Ketel One Botanical rode away with the smooth victory, 5-½. Despite defensive pressure by T Squared Energy that started off with half goal on handicap, Ketel One Botanical was able to establish an early lead in the first chukker which they carried on throughout the remainder of the final. Proven to be solid from the penalty line and opening the scoring with a quick penalty conversion, team captain Hudspeth served her team well as a strong Back. “I was playing a forward position, but I decided to change it up when Joanie subbed for Athena, since she’s a little more of an offensive and forward player,” Hudspeth explained. “Joanie, Carter and Stephanie
