Kampsen Scores Six as Heronwood Farms Captures Pedro Morrison Memorial Cup
By Alex Webbe
Heronwood Farms received two goals by handicap, but didn’t need the help Sunday as they powered their way over GTP Polo in Grand Champions Polo Club’s Pedro Morrison Memorial Cup, 11-6.
Heronwood team captain Melissa Ganzi added two goals in the sixth chukker to seal the deal, but it was the teamplay of the Heronwood team that set the tempo for the game.
“Everyone played their position today,” said Heronwood’s 7-goaler Juan Bollini,” it was a tem effort.”
Bollini played the part of field general to perfection as he directed players and set up plays throughout the match. He scored a single goal for Heronwood in the fifth chukker, but his command of the team and deliberate defensive backhand shots accented a perfectly played game by the Argentine veteran.
Kampsen scored the first goal of the game to put Heronwood on top 3-0 (they received two goals by handicap) before GTP Polo barreled back into competition. Two goals from Marc Ganzi cut the lead to a single goal as the horn sounded after the first seven minutes of play.
Kampsen converted a penalty goal in the second chukker, which was countered by a goal from 8-goaler Nick Roldan, and Heronwood held on to a 4-3 lead.
Marc Ganzi’s third goal of the game tied the score at 4-4, but another penalty goal from Kampsen and a goal from the field from the hard riding 6-goaler gave Heronwood a 6-4 halftime lead.
“I just kept on pressing,” said Kampsen after the game, “I don’t know how many goals I scored. I just kept pressing the attack as the ball was passed forward to us.”
GTP Polo had trouble getting the same chemistry going for them as they were blanked in the fourth and fifth chukkers, falling behind 9-4.
Melissa Ganzi scored her first goal of the game in the sixth chukker countered by two goals from Brandon Phillips. Melissa’s second and final goal of the match gave Heronwood the final 11-6 win in fast-paced action that was cheered on by a couple hundred spectators on the Number 1 field at the International Polo Club.
Kampsen led all scorers with six goals. Melissa Ganzi scored twice and Juan Bollini added a single goal in the Heronwood win.
Marc Ganzi scored team-high three goals for GTP Polo. Brandon Phillips added two goals and Nick Roldan scored once.
Pedro Morrison’s brother Carlos and nephew Tom were on hand to distribute the trophies to the players before all retired to the club for a poolside lunch.
In earlier action, Newport scored a resounding 10-5 win over Palm Beach Equine in the consolation match of the tournament with Gene Goldstein scoring the first five goals for the winning team.
J. J. Celis added two goals as Newport cruised to a 6-3 halftime lead before burying Palm Beach Equine in the final three chukkers of play.
Gene Goldstein’s five goals were complimented with two goals from Celis. Carlucho Arellano and Joe Muldoon added single goals for the winning team.
Scott Swerdlin and Cali Garcia each scored two goals. Diego Arellano scored once in the loss.
Tournament competition will continue next week with the Palm Restaurant Invitational.