Michelob Ultra, led by veterans Kris Bowman and Cissie Jones, is one of the pre-tournament favorites of the fifth annual Aiken Ladies Invitational Polo Tournament, Sept. 19-24 at New Bridge Polo Club. Eight teams, in a double-elimination format, will compete for the trophy.
“We have a great blend of veterans and talented young players,” said team captain Bowman, a 0-goaler from Vero Beach, Florida who will play the No. 2 position. “We’re honored to be supported by Michelob Ultra and we’re honored to bring awareness to women in polo. And we plan on having a great time.”
Michelob Ultra is sponsored by Adolphus A. Busch IV, a long-time supporter of women’s and men’s polo in the United States.
“Michelob Ultra has played in many major polo clubs and we’re excited about our first visit to Aiken and our chances in the tournament,” said Busch, a former high-goal patron. “This is an opportunity for the Michelob Ultra team to expand its horizons.”
Other Michelob Ultra corporate sponsors include Silver Eagle Distributors of Houston, Texas and Anheuser Busch, Inc. of St. Louis, Missouri.
Joining Bowman and Jones are 1-goaler Fiona Seager of Virginia and 0-goaler Tiffany Busch of Vero Beach.
Bowman, who has been playing competitive polo since 1990, is currently the manager of the Vero Beach (Florida) Polo Club and owns and operates "Polo Vacations Polo School”. She is also the USPA chairman of the Club and Membership Development Committee and was one of two women chosen to sit on the USPA Strategic Planning Committee. She has been the playing captain for the Michelob Ultra team in Vero Beach for two years.
Jones is the Central Region Director of Interscholastic and Intercollegiate Polo for the Polo Training Foundation and is one of the foremost coaches and instructors in polo. She also is very active in the USPA and sits on several committees, including the USPA Strategic Planning Committee. Cissie presently plays in the 6-goal league at Las Colinas Polo Club.
Seager is a recent graduate of the University of Virginia where she played varsity polo for four years. She is a two-time winner of the prestigious U.S. Arena Open championship. She is currently playing in the 12-goal tournaments in Virginia while she pursues a medical degree.
College freshman Tiffany Busch is the daughter of 3-goaler Peter Busch and is new to the game, only playing for two years. Busch, is “a natural” according to Bowman, played competitively in 4- and 8-goal leagues for the Michelob Ultra team in Vero Beach.
Hilltop Farm, led by Karen Pimser, is the defending champion. Other top players competing include Julie Boyle, Gillian Johnston, Kristy Waters, Carolyn Stimmel, Abby Riggs, Christine Cato, Megan Arellano and Haley Bryan.
