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| Lorenzo Merlotti of 7chukkerpolo.com battles for the ball. Photo by Scott Fisher |
For the second consecutive day, Casablanca won a major junior tournament.
Casablanca (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Joaquin Panelo, Wes Finlayson) defeated7Chukkerpolo.com (Lorenzo Merlotti, Marcos Alberdi, Alejandro Gonzalez, Matias Gonzalez) to win the 6-12 goal George Oliver Memorial Tournament with a thrilling 7-6 victory at International Polo Club.
On Thursday, Casablanca won the 0-6 goal Jimmer Newman Memorial with an 8-6 victory over Pony Express.
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| Most Valuable Player Matias Gonzalez of 7chukkerpolo.com with awards presenter Mimi Gracida-Boyle. Photo by Scott Fisher |
Matias Gonzalez of 7Chukkerpolo.com was named Most Valuable Player.
Lorenzo Merlotti of 7Chukkerpolo.com was awarded the Nelly Loeb Perpetual Sportsmanship Award.
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| Lorenzo Merlotti of 7chukkerppolo.com with his Nelly Loeb Perpetual Sportsmanship Award. Photo by Scott Fisher |
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| The Nelly Loeb Perpetual Sportsmanship Trophy. Photo by Scott Fisher |
The hardfought, evenly-matched game was close for most of the four chukkers.
Trailing Casablanca 7-5 in the fourth chukker, Alejandro Gonzalez of 7Chukkerpolo.com scored a goal off the boards to trail by only one goal.
Gonzalez then worked the ball downfield 100 yards close to the goal line but was unable to score with the ball being kicked out of bounds by a defender.
With 23 seconds left, 7Chukkerpolo.com was unable to capitalize on a safety and with one second left had another shot at a safety but missed a scoring attempt by a few feet.
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Joaquin Panelo of Casablanca prepares to back the ball past two defenders.
Photo by Scott Fisher |
Panelo, a 4-goal rated player, led scoring with four goals including the game-winner in the final chukker. Ganzi, Bollini and Finlayson each had one goal.
Merlotti and Alberdi each had two goals for 7Chukkerpolo.com. Alejandro and Matias Gonzalez each had one goal.
George Oliver, a leading pro polo player from the 1930s to the 1960s died of pneumonia in his home in Sparta, N.C. He was 83. He started playing polo at 23 and maintained a 9-goal handicap until he was in his 50s. He lived in Delray Beach during his playing days.
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| The George Oliver Memorial Cup. Photo by Scott Fisher |
His daughter, Mimi Oliver Gracida-Boyle presented the awards to both teams.
After the game, the Polo Training Foundation held its annual Polo Party at the Mallet Grille where the 2014 Junior Awards were presented.
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| Casablanca’s winning team of Joaquin Panelo, Wes Finlayson, Juancito Bollini and Grant Ganzi with awards presenter Mimi Gracida-Boyle. Photo by Scott Fisher |
This year’s six award winners were Alyssa Tranchilla and Mackie Weisz, most improved juniors; Malia Bryan and Jack McLean, sportsmanship award; Michael Bellissimo, most improved youth and Connell Erb, youth sportsmanship award.
Grand Champions Polo Club owner Melissa Ganzi and Polo Training Foundation have been instrumental in the growth of junior and youth polo.
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| Casablanca teammates Joaquin Panelo, Wes Finlayson, Juancito Bollini and Grant Ganzi, awards presenter Mimi Gracida-Boyle and 7chukkerpolo.complayers Lorenzo Merlotti, Marcos Alberdi, Matias Gonzalez and Alejandro Gonzalez. Photo by Scott Fisher |
Ganzi is secretary-treasurer of the Polo Training Foundation and committee member for the PTF Party. She and her husband Marc have been selfless supporters of the PTF orchestrating the growth and success of the juniors and youth programs across the nation.
For game recaps, news, features and photos of Grand Champions Polo Club-related events, go towww.grandchampionspoloclub.org.
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| Casablanca’s Grant Ganzi reaches for the ball. Photo by Scott Fisher |
GRAND CHAMPIONS AT PALM BEACH POLO 2014 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (HOTLINE 561-373-0073)
LAS ACACIAS 5-GOAL CUP
SATURDAY: FINAL, 10 a.m., Pony Express vs. Ganaraska, Field 9; HANDICAP FINAL, 11:30 a.m., Elegante/Tuff Rider at Equuleus.
GOVERNOR’S CUP, 2 p.m., Field 1, Grand Champions
USPA NATIONAL PRESIDENT’S CUP 8-GOAL
SATURDAY: FINAL, 3 p.m., Goose Creek vs. Casablanca, Grand Champions, Field 2, Grand Champions.
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Casablanca’s Grant Ganzi goes for the ball ahead of two defenders.
Photo by Scott Fisher |
GRAND CHAMPIONS 2014 SPRING SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)
APRIL 18-20: Grand Champions Cup, Sunday, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. final.
APRIL 24-27: The USPA Spring Challenge
MAY 1-4: The USPA Sun Cup
MAY 8-11: The USPA Eastern Challenge
MAY 15-18: The Polo Gear Challenge Cup
MAY 22-26: The Memorial
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| Joaquin Panelo of Casablanca battles for the ball between defenders Matias Gonzalez and Marcos Alberdi of 7chukkerpolo.com. Photo by Scott Fisher |
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Flight Options. Everyone is welcome to watch high, medium and low goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the winter, spring and fall tournament season and other special events including International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, ProKidz Tournaments in the spring and fall, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April. |
