| Polo stars Nic Roldan and Jeff Hall head the field for this week’s USPA Spring Challenge Cup at Grand Champions Polo Club.It is the second of six medium-goal tournaments that features five teams.
The teams are Casablanca, Pony Express, Power Horse, TLC Development and Ride To Shine.
Roldan, rated at 8 goals, and Hall, a 7-goaler, are two of America’s top polo players. Among other pros competing are 6-goalers Guille Aguero, Tomas Goti and Tommy Biddle and 5-goalers Brandon Phillips and Juan Bollini.
 |
| Nic Roldan, one of America’s top polo players will compete for team Ride To Shine. Photo by Scott Fisher. |
Last Sunday, Psycho Bunny, led by Most Valuable Player Kris Kampsen, won the spring season-opening tournament with a 12-11 victory over Clearwater. Hall was a member of the winning team.
This weekend’s team lineups are:
Casablanca: (11), Grant Ganzi, A; Mariano Gracida, 3; Jeff Hall, 7; Juancito Bollini, 1.
Pony Express: (10) Bob Daniels, A; Tomas Goti, 6; Pancho Eddy, 4; Justin Daniels, A.
Power Horse: (12) Melissa Ganzi; Juan Bollini, 5; Guille Aguero, 6; Walter Scherb, 1.
TLC Development: (13) Glenn Straub, A; Tommy Biddle, 6; Brandon Phillips, 5; Wes Finlayson, 2.
Ride To Shine: (13) Neku Atowadi, A; Martin Estrada, 4; Nic Roldan, 8; Marc Ganzi 1.
 |
| Bob Daniels (4) will play alongside Tomas Goti, Pancho Eddy and Justin Daniels for Pony Express. Photo by Scott Fisher. |
Tournament action gets under way on Friday. TLC Development will play Power Horse at 10 a.m. on Field 2. Pony Express, Ride To Shine and Casablanca will play a round robin at 4 p.m. on Field 1. On Sunday, a consolation round robin is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Field 8 followed by the final at 11:30 a.m. on Field 2.
The remainder of the Grand Champions spring schedule is: May 1-4, The USPA Sun Cup; May 8-11, The USPA Eastern Challenge; May 15-18 The Polo Gear Challenge Cup and May 22-26 The Memorial.
In last year’s USPA Spring Challenge, Marc Ganzi converted a 40-yard penalty to lead Audi to an 11-10 shootout victory over Piaget. Juan Bollini of Piaget was named MVP.
During the Grand Champions’ 2014 spring season, amateur polo players play with and against some of the world’s top pros.
 |
| Glenn Straub plays for TLC Development in this week’s USPA Spring Challenge Cup. Photo by Scott Fisher. |
Grand Champions, with its well-manicured fields and turnkey facility, expects to have its best spring season in the nine-year history of the club.
Last year’s spring tournament winners included ELG/Psycho Bunny, Power Horse, Audi, Pony Express and Longfield Farm.
Admission is free to spectators.
For game recaps, news, features and photos of Grand Champions Polo Club-related events, go towww.grandchampionspoloclub.org.
GRAND CHAMPIONS 2014 SPRING SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)
APRIL 25-27: The USPA Spring Challenge, FRIDAY, TLC Development vs. Power Horse, 10 a.m., Field 2; Pony Express vs. Ride To Shine vs. Casablanca, 4 p.m., Field 1; SUNDAY, Consolation round robin, 9:30 a.m., Field 8; Championship final, 11:30 a.m., Field 2.
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
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. |
