Grand Champions Polo Club Opens with the Fall International Cup
By Alex Webbe
Fall polo began in Wellington, Florida for the first time with the Grand Champions Polo Club’s Fall International Cup which attracted five medium-goal teams in the first of a series of tournaments scheduled to run until the middle of November.
In opening action Audi defeated Santa Clara 12-7 with nearly every player getting on the scoreboard.
“It was a lot of fun,” offered Santa Clara’s John Benitz, who led all scoring with five goals. “I know the speed is going to pick up over the next few weeks,” he added, “but this was a great way to begin the season.”
University of Miami student/polo player Michael Liss got the ball rolling for Audi with the first goal of the game followed by a second goal from Grand Champions club president Melissa Ganzi as Audi’s defense kept Santa Clara off of the scoreboard in the opening chukker of play.
“The recent rains have kept most of us from practicing for the last several days,” Melissa said, “but the pace continued to pick up as we got more comfortable in the saddle again.”
Benitz got Santa Clara on the scoreboard to open the second period followed by goals from Ganzi and teammate Kris Kampsen. Santa Cara struggled to get its attack going, but left the field at the end of the chukker trailing 6-1.
“Sometimes it takes you a little time to get your team organized,” said Santa Clara team captain Francisco Escobar, “but we were improving as the game went on.”
Luis Escobar opened the scoring in the third period before goals from Liss and Bollini managed to give Audi a commanding 6-2 halftime advantage.
“The Grand Champions concept of polo is really a great deal of fun,” said Francisco Escobar, “You have the opportunity to play with top international professionals and a group of amateur players who bring the heart and soul of the club together. This is how people should enjoy this great game.”
As Audi continued to dominate, Santa Clara made a move to get back into the game outscoring Audi 3-2 in the fourth period.
“I thought we were getting a rhythm going in the fourth period,” said 5-goaler Brandon Phillips, “but they managed to shut us down again in the fifth.
Goals from Ganzi and Bollini accounted for the only scoring in the fifth frame and gave Audi a 10-5 lead. Additional goals from Liss and Bollini gave Audi its 12-7 margin of victory despite two sixth chukker goals from Benitz. South Florida rains cancelled Friday’s second match of the day, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the club members who gathered at the International Polo club for an evening Asada.
“We really believe that the social side of the game is as important as the action on the field,” said Melissa Ganzi. “We are fortunate enough to play polo with friends and neighbors and enjoy their company as much off the field as we do on it.”
With Saturday’s play cancelled due to rain, a round-robin final qualifier was arranged on Sunday to accommodate the remaining three teams in the tournament.
In evenly-matched competition, Neil Hirsch’s Black Watch team found itself in the finals against the home Grand Champions foursome by a margin of a single goal.
“I haven’t been on a horse in over a week,” admitted Hirsch, who scored two goals on the day. “It’s going to take a few days before I get back into playing shape again. Black Watch made it to the finals of the coveted Mercedes-Benz Challenge at the Bridgehampton Polo Club this summer, but had been out of competition for the past few weeks.
Black Watch’s Martin Pepa led all scoring on the day with six goals and promised nothing but his all in the finals.
“I play to win, always,” said Pepa, with a smile as he was taking some good-natured kidding from his teammates about the intensity of his play. “I love this game,” he added.
Gene Goldstein’s Newport team fell a single goal short of the finals but was well appointed in the round-robin competition. “There’s plenty of polo to be played,” vowed Newport teammate Carlucho Arellano, “there’s always next time.”
Action will get under way this coming weekend in the Pedro Morrison Memorial Cup as team rosters are shuffled and a sixth team joins the field.
“There will be two three team divisions in the Pedro Morrison Memorial Cup,” said Melissa Ganzi, “with the two best records facing off in the finals.”
Tournament play at the Grand Champions Polo Club will continue thru November 11 offering players and spectators the opportunity to enjoy a rare opportunity of fall polo in the Palm Beaches.