One hundred fifty years after polo first took root in Newport, the final bell of the Diamond Jubilee season rang across BD Field as the Newport Hotshots defeated the Newport Masters 9–6 in the Turkish Airlines Finals. The last six chukkers of the 35th Newport International Polo Series, presented by Turkish Airlines in partnership with Aston Martin Boston, delivered an early Hotshots surge, a determined Masters comeback and one final decisive response from Newport’s rising generation.
The finale arrived one week later than planned after a nor’easter postponed the original date, giving the season an unexpected October encore. The rescheduled afternoon combined the Finals with Newport Polo’s 10th All Charity Day, welcoming more than 18 participating nonprofit organizations to raise funds and awareness for causes throughout the community.
Before the opening throw-in, Miss Rhode Island Mia Daley performed the U.S. National Anthem. John Battaglino, co-founder of Rising Tide Travel and leader of Newport Polo’s Diamond Jubilee World Tour, stepped forward for the Official Coin Toss as the two sides prepared to decide the final victory of the season.
Wearing navy, the Newport Masters fielded Laurel Howe and Kat Thomson sharing the #1 position, Roger Souto at #2, Dan Kinsella at #3 and Sam Shore at #4. In red, the Newport Hotshots countered with Tomi Garzera at #1, Gus Reed at #2, Anna Dwyer at #3 and Minnie Keating at #4.
The Hotshots wasted little time announcing their intentions. Tomi Garzera struck twice in the opening chukker, while Roger Souto answered for the Masters to keep the early contest close at 2–1. Gus Reed supplied the only goal of the second, stretching the Hotshots’ advantage to 3–1.
Dan Kinsella opened the scoring in the third to pull the Masters within one, but the Hotshots quickly took control. Minnie Keating found the goal before Reed added two more, completing a three-goal run that sent the red shirts into halftime with a commanding 6–2 lead.
The interval gave the Masters exactly the reset they needed. Souto and Kinsella scored the only goals of the fourth chukker, cutting the deficit in half and shifting the momentum toward navy. Sam Shore carried that charge into the fifth, striking twice to complete a four-goal comeback and draw the match level at 6–6 with one chukker remaining.
With the season’s final victory suddenly up for grabs, the Hotshots rediscovered the finishing touch that had built their early lead. Keating broke the tie, Reed followed with his fourth goal of the afternoon and Anna Dwyer added the closing point. Three unanswered goals in the sixth secured the Hotshots’ 9–6 victory and brought the Diamond Jubilee season to a thrilling finish.
Reed led all scorers with four goals, while Garzera and Keating contributed two apiece and Dwyer added one. Souto, Kinsella and Shore each scored twice for the Masters, whose four-goal second-half rally transformed what had appeared to be a runaway into a tightly contested finale.
Beyond the boards, the finale carried the easygoing swagger of the Coastal Cowboy theme. Denim, boots, suede and Western details met Newport’s seaside style as guests competed for the season’s final Stella Artois Best in Show honors. At Dillon’s Patio Bar, the Victory Lap offered a fitting toast to the last match of the year, while spectators gathered for one final halftime Divot Stomp on BD Field.
The afternoon also marked the culmination of a season-long journey with Turkish Airlines. A spectator visiting from Hanover, Massachusetts, won the final Door Prize and joined the season’s weekly winners in the Grand Prize Drawing. From that field of finalists, Steve Bertolami—who qualified while attending the USA vs. Mongolia match—was named the 2026 Turkish Airlines Grand Prize winner, receiving two round-trip Business Class tickets to a destination within the airline’s global network. It was a fitting conclusion to a season built around international competition, friendship and travel.
Following the final horn, the teams assembled at center field for the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Trophy Presentation. Onur Alpan, Turkish Airlines General Manager–Boston, presented the historic 1992 Inaugural Liberty Bowl to the Newport Hotshots.
Players, supporters and friends then gathered at Dillon’s Patio Bar for a final Champagne toast, celebrating the completion of Newport Polo’s 35th season and a Diamond Jubilee that honored 150 years of American polo history. After a summer of international rivalries, milestone moments and Saturday traditions, the last afternoon ended as the season had unfolded: with spirited competition on the field and a welcoming community gathered around it.
The field may now fall quiet for the winter, but the next chapter is already on the horizon. Newport Polo returns to Glen Farm on Saturday, June 5, 2027, for Opening Day and the beginning of Season 36.
Along with Aston Martin Boston, the Polo Series is proud to welcome partnerships with Brenton Hotel │ Turkish Airlines │ Foxwoods Resort Casino │ TD Bank │BD │ Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers │ Vanderbilt International Properties │ Hotel Viking │ Hammetts Hotel │ Newport Harbor Island Resort │ Forty 1° North │ Veuve Clicquot Champagne │Modern Luxury Boston │ Providence Business News │ Penelope Bourbon │ Clarke Cooke House │ RISE │The Macallan │ Brugal Rum │ Highclere Castle Gin │ Surfside │ Kadeema Rentals │ Spirit Water │ Absolut │ Codigo 1530 Tequila │ Gooseneck Vineyards Prosecco │ Chateau Sainte Marguerite Rosé │ Atria Senior Living │ Stella Artois │ A1 Roofing & Construction │ Grieco BMW │ Kinsella Building Co. │ ROCKSTAR Limo │ Classical 95.9 WCRI │ Cointreau │ Visit Jamaica │ Mt. Gay Silver Rum; and promotional partners including The Cocktail Guru │ Newport Jaguar Tours │ Sailing Yacht Tree of Life │ Island Adventure │ Cocoa & Co │ International Tennis Hall of Fame │ Newport Vineyards │ Elizabeth in Newport │ Newport Mansions │ Sea Newport │ Adventure Kiteboarding School │ Newport Kites │ Newport Classical | Discover Newport.