Casablanca’s Wes Finlayson (4) goes for the big hit windup despite pressure from ELG’s Nic Roldan (3). Photos by Scott Fisher.
WELLINGTON, FL – Oct. 23, 2013 — Audi and Beluga will open play on Thursday in the first game of the USPA Fall Plates Tournament at 1 p.m. at Grand Champions Polo Club.
Five teams will compete in the three-day tournament. Audi, Beluga, Casablanca, ELG, and Palm House are entered in the fifth tournament of the fall season.
A round-robin tournament with three games featuring 13-goal teams Casablanca, ELG and Palm House is Friday beginning at 3:30 p.m., also at Grand Champions.
The championship final is Sunday at 3 p.m. sandwiched between the subsidiary game at 1 p.m. and consolation at 5 p.m.
The team lineups are:
Audi (11 goals): Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini, Luis Escobar, Kaisser Maakar.
Beluga (14 goals): Misha Rodzianko, Mariano Gracida, Joey Casey, Brandon Phillips.
Casablanca (13 goals): Leo Mandelbaum, Grant Ganzi, Wes Finlayson, Mike Azzaro.
ELG Polo (13 goals): Avery Chapman, Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan.
Palm House (13 goals): Glenn Straub, Kris Kampsen, Guille (Gigi) Aguero, Juancito Bollini.
This is the fifth medium-goal tournaments of the fall season which has been the most competitive in Grand Champion’s seven-year history. Casablanca has won two tournaments; Paladin and Audi have each captured one tournament title.
Two 20-goal tournaments are scheduled for November.
The two 20-goal tournaments are the Oct. 30 – Nov. 9 USPA North America Cup and Nov.13-24 USPA National 20-Goal Championship.
During the 2012 fall season, Audi dominated the season winning back-to-back USPA North America Cup and USPA National 20-Goal Tournament titles with Marc Ganzi, Carlitos Gracida, Nic Roldan and Carlos Gracida. In the national 20-goal final, Audi edged Piaget, 10-9.
All tournaments are USPA-sanctioned and have grown in stature since their start in the mid-1990s.
GRAND CHAMPIONS FALL SCHEDULE
Oct. 25-27, USPA Fall Plates
Oct. 30 – Nov. 9, USPA North America Cup
Nov. 1-3, Pedro Morrison Memorial
Nov. 8-10, Palm Restaurant Invitational
Nov. 13-24, The National 20-Goal Championship
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 561-644-5050.
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 high and medium goal 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