No. 1 Martin Estrada of Piaget keeping the ball in play in the air. Photos – Scott Fisher.
WELLINGTON, FL – May 4, 2013 — Audi and Piaget will meet in Sunday’s championship final of the USPA Spring Challenge at 5 p.m. at Grand Champions Polo Club.
It will be the third tournament title on the line in the Grand Champions Polo Club 2013 spring circuit.
ELG, Palm House and Pony Express will play in the subsidiary cup round robin beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Piaget, led by Martin Estrada’s four goals, advanced into the championship with a thrilling 9-8 sudden death victory over Palm House on Brandon Phillips’ game-winner at the 5:40 mark in overtime.
Palm House was led by Tommy Biddle with three goals.
Audi won the three-team round-robin by most goals scored. Audi won its opening game with an 8-6 victory over Pony Express. Marc Ganzi and Nic Roldan each had three goals and Grant Ganzi added two. Tomas Goti led Pony Express with three goals.
Audi and ELG tied in the third round robin game, 4-4, but Audi advanced with a total of 12 goals. Marc Ganzi, despite a broken thumb, again led scoring with two goals. Roldan and Grant Ganzi each had one goal. Carlucho Arellano led ELG with two goals.
In the other round robin, Pony Express defeated a strong ELG team, 6-3. Teenager Justin Daniels led scoring with two. Bob Daniels, Tomas Goti and Pancho Eddy each had one. Pony Express also got a handicap goal.
Kris Kampsen of ELG saw his two-tournament win streak end when ELG was eliminated from championship final play. He was a member of the winning ELG/Psycho Bunny team that won the season-opening Palm City Open and played for the winning Power Horse team in the Polo Gear Invitational.
Palm House could win its second consecutive subsidiary title. The team is coming off its consolation game victory, 4-3 over ELG where Alejandro Poma of Palm House was named MVP. It was team captain Glenn Straub’s first consolation title.
The teams, rated from 10 to 14 goals, are:
Audi Polo Team, 14 goals, Grant Ganzi, Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Lucas Lalor.
Pony Express, 10, Bob Daniels, Justin Daniels, Tomas Goti, Pancho Eddy.
ELG, 13, Sue Gengras, Juancito Bollini, Carlucho Arellano, Kris Kampsen.
Palm House, 13, Glenn Straub, Carlitos Gracida, JJ Celis, Tommy Biddle.
Piaget, 14, Martin Estrada, Brandon Phillips, Juan Bollini, Gene Goldstein.
The remaining Grand Champions spring tournaments are the May 10-12 USPA Sun Cup; May 17-19 USPA Eastern Challenge; and May 24-27 Memorial by Piaget.
GRAND CHAMPIONS SPRING SCHEDULE
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.
Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12012 South Shore Blvd #105
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com