Longfield’s Nic Roldan beats Pony Express’ Pancho Eddy to the ball. Photo credit Alex Pacheco.
Power Horse held off Palm House in the final chukker to win a thrilling 10-9 match on Friday and advance into Sunday’s final of the sixth annual Polo Gear Invitational at Grand Champions Polo Club.
Power Horse will play Pony Express in the championship at 9:30 a.m. followed by a round robin to determine the consolation winner between Palm House, Longfield and ELG.
Five teams competed throughout the day in four games at Grand Champions.
Pony Express advanced into the final with a 6-4 victory over Longfield and 4-2 win over ELG in round robin play. In the other round robin game, ELG defeated Longfield, 4-2.
Kris Kampsen and Brandon Phillips each scored four goals to lead Power Horse. Teammates Melissa Ganzi and Walter Scherb each scored a goal in the first half.
It will be Kampsen’s second consecutive spring season championship final appearance. Last weekend Kampsen was a member of the winning team ELG/Psycho Bunny in the Palm City Open season-opener.
Kampsen competed Friday morning and then quickly packed his mallets for the 85-mile trip to Miami Beach to compete in the La Martina Miami Beach Polo World Cup.
The morning game was exciting from start to finish. Even though it was the first time Power Horse played together, the chemistry was evident from the opening chukker.
“We have either played against each other or played with one another plus we all watch each other play so we know each other’s style and adapt to it,” Phillips said.
“I have been playing with Kris since we were kids,” Phillips said. “This is a lot of fun, it’s a lot more relaxing than 20- and high goal. It’s fun that’s everyone is having a good time. You still get mad at yourself but it’s definitely not as intense as the season.”
Several of the pro players are competing on younger horses.
Melissa Ganzi, co-host of the tournament, is coming off the high goal season with Piaget and working her way back from a severe groin pull.
In the afternoon, she got the opportunity to relax and watch husband Marc of ELG play against their son Grant of Longfield. Father edged son, 4-2. Marc Ganzi led his team in scoring with two goals and Grant scored one goal.
“It’s refreshing to play with all of our friends and our local pros that have always supported Grand Champions,” Melissa Ganzi said. “The fields are beautiful. This is the nicest time of year to play. Playing early in the morning and late in the afternoon couldn’t be any nicer.
“It’s competitive,” Ganzi said. “Alejandro Pomo ruined all of my goal attempts, he is a force to be reckoned with. It’s super fun and we’re in the finals.”
In the fifth chukker, Power Horse tied the game at 8-8 on a penalty goal by Phillips. Early in the sixth chukker Phillips converted another penalty shot for a 9-8 lead and Kampsen scored with four minutes in what turned out to be the winning goal.
Carlucho Arellano, who scored with 45 seconds remaining to trail by only one (10-9), led scoring for Palm House with four goals. Pomo added two goals and John Gobin and Glen Straub each scored one goal.
“This is fun and competitive,” Arellano said. “If you come out here expecting to cruise you will get beat. You compete hard but you keep that fun attitude.
“I feel like either team could have won today,” Arellano said. “It came down to a couple plays in the very last minutes. They got a couple good goals in at the end and we only got one in. Time ran out on us.”
In the first round robin game, Justin Daniels scored three goals to lead Pony Express to a 6-4 win over Longfield. Bob Daniels and Pancho Eddy each scored a goal in addition to one handicap goal. Nic Roldan and Grant Ganzi each had two goals for Longfield.
In the second round robin game, ELG defeated Longfield, 4-2, with Marc Ganzi leading all scoring with two goals despite playing with a broken thumb. Teammates Lucas Lalor and JJ Celis each had one goal. For Longfield, Ganzi and Roldan each scored a goal.
In the third and final round robin of the afternoon, after a scoreless opening chukker, Pony Express defeated ELG, 4-2. Bob Daniels and Tomas Goti each scored two goals for the winners. Ganzi and Celis each had one goal for ELG.
Polo Gear, one of the top sponsors and supporters of polo established in 1993 and incorporated in Florida, manufactures, distributes and sells polo products to players, teams and polo events worldwide.
The other spring tournaments are the May 3-5 USPA Spring Challenge; May 10-12 USPA Sun Cup; May 17-19 USPA Eastern Challenge; and May 24-27 Memorial by Piaget.
GRAND CHAMPIONS SPRING SCHEDULE
April 26-28: The Polo Gear Cup
May 3-5: USPA Spring Challenge
May 10-12: The USPA Sun Cup
May 17-19: USPA Eastern Challenge
May 24-27: The Memorial by Piaget
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Piaget. Everyone is welcome to watch polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.