By Alex Webbe
Los Algarrobos took advantage of four goals by handicap and held on to edge Audi 9-8 in Sunday’s finals of the La Martina Cup at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington.
Julio Gracida got Audi on the scoreboard in the first chukker, but a goal from Melissa Ganzi had Los Algarrobos ahead 5-1 after the first chukker of play.
Audi battled back in the ensuing two chukkers, getting two goals from Brandon Phillips and a single goal from Brad Blake while playing shutout defense.
The teams left the field at the end of the first half with Los Algarrobos holding on to a 6-5 lead.
Kris Kampsen set the pace in the fourth period, adding two goals from the field while he and the balance of the team kept Audi from scoring. Los Algarrobos held a 7-4 edge as the chukker ended.
Kampsen scored a third consecutive goal in the fifth chukker before Gracida answered with a goal for Audi. Kampsen returned with another goal, but Phillips closed out the chukker with a sixth goal for Audi. Los Algarrobos held on to the three-goal lead, 9-6.
Marc Ganzi made the final chukker exciting with two quick goals to cast the final outcome of the game in doubt until the final bell sounded.
“I had to bring out my A Game,” said Marc Ganzi after the match. “When Kampsen is on, you’ve got to play at your best.”
GRAND CHAMPIONS WHITE 6, GRAND CHAMPIONS BLACK 5
In earlier action, Grand Champions White won a hard-fought battle with Grand Champions Black in a 6-5 consolation match.
In a first half that seemed to last forever, Grand Champions White finally managed single goals from Trevor Allen and J. J. Celis to lead 2-1 at the end of the first three chukkers of play. Joey Casey scored GC Black’s only goal as both teams struggled to find any offensive punch.
“We carried the ball well up and down the field,” said GC Black’s Leo Mandelbaum, “we just couldn’t get the shots on goal to go in.”
Mandelbaum opened the fourth chukker with two goals while shutting out GC White, and allowing Grand Champions Black to take its first lead of the game, 3-2.
Grand Champions White rallied in the fifth, however, getting a goal from Juan Martin Obregon and two more from J. J. Celis. Joey Casey scored once for Grand Champions Black, but trailed 5-4.
Celis scored his fourth goal of the game to extend the lead to 6-4 as Grand Champions Black fought to get back into the game.
Mandelbaum converted a penalty shot to cut the Grand Champions White lead to a single goal, but that would end the scoring and the game in a 6-5 Grand Champions White win.
Celis led all scorers with four goals on the day. Allen and Obregon each added a goal in the win.
Leo Mandelbaum scored three times for Grand Champions Black. Teammate Joey Casey scored twice.
Mandelbaum was named tournament MVP while Julio Gracida’s black mare, KK was named Best Playing Pony. Tournament play will continue at the Grand Champions Polo Club on Friday, May 15, with the Tackeria Spring Invitational.