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Spring Season Ends This Weekend With Santa Rita Abierto & The Memorial At Grand Champions Polo Club
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WELLINGTON, Fl.-May 23, 2019----Polo fans are in for one final weekend of great polo at Grand Champions Polo Club.
The season will end with two tournaments--the Santa Rita Abierto on Friday and Sunday and The Memorial on Memorial Day Monday.
The first game on Friday at 3 p.m. features Palm Beach Equine against Dutta Corp. At 5 p.m., Audi plays last weekend's winner Sebucan.
Winners advance into the final on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and runner-up teams play for the Just For The Love Of It subsidiary final at 10 a.m.
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| Alejandro Novillo Astrada |
The rosters are:
Audi: (18) Marc Ganzi, 2, Sugar Erskine, 6, Jared Zenni, 6, Juancito Bollini, 4.
Dutta Corp: (17) Timmy Dutta, 2, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Tommy Collingwood, 5, Kris Kampsen, 6.
Palm Beach Equine: (17) Scott Swerdlin, 0, Brandon Phillips, 4, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8, Juan Bollini, 5.
Sebucan: (19) Grant Ganzi, 3, Pablo Pulido, 2, Pablo Spinacci, 6, Nic Roldan, 8.
On Monday, The Memorial will feature Grand Champions U.S. against Grand Champions Rest of The World at 10 a.m.
The rosters are:
Grand Champions U.S.: (23) Grant Ganzi, 3, Sugar Erskine, 6, Jared Zenni, 6, Nic Roldan, 8.
Grand Champions Rest of the World: (20) Pablo Pulido, 2, Brandon Phillips, 4, Pablo Spinacci, 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8.
Last year's Santa Rita Abierto was won by Dutta Corp for the third time (Timmy Dutta, Lucas Diaz Alberdi, Piki Diaz Alberdi, Alex Webb) with a 7-4 victory over Sebucan (Josh Dubarry, Pablo Pulido, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Julio Gracida) in a four-chukker lightning-abreviated championship final. Dutta, then 16, coming off a successful 20-goal season, was named Most Valuable Player.
The Santa Rita Abierto is named after Grand Champions President Melissa Ganzi's grandmother, who passed away on December 29, 2012, in Wellington.
Intercontinental Hotel (Alejandro Poma, 1, JJ Celis, 4, Kris Kampsen, 6, Juancito Bollini, 4) was credited with The Memorial Tournament title in a rain-abbreviated tournament after winning 6-3 on opening day against Aspen Valley (Jeff Desich, 0, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Juan Bollini, 5, Lucas Lalor, 6).
Winners of this season's first three spring tournaments were Dutta Corp (Timmy Dutta, 2, Carlitos Gracida, 4, Kris Kampsen, 6, Jared Zenni, 6) in the Sun Cup for a club record fourth time; Aspen Valley (Pablo Pulido, 2, Juancito Bollini, 4, Grant Ganzi, 3, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8) in the Spring Challenge Cup; and Sebucan (Pablo Pulido, 2, Juancito Bollini, 4, Pablo Spinacci, 6, Jarred Zenni, 6) in the Polo Gear Challenge Cup. The first two tournament finals went into overtime.
Several top and up-and-coming players and patrons compete during the fun and competitive GCPC Spring Invitational League that features 14-20-goal tournaments in May.
During the Grand Champions' spring season, amateur polo players get the chance to play with and against some of the world's top professional polo players. It is geared towards improving polo skills and having fun.
The spring league is also a great opportunity for younger players to develop and hone their skills against their peers and more experienced players.
The GCPC spring league features: medium goal practice games at least once a week; stick-and-ball sessions available during the week; teams get two medium goal tournament games every weekend; ambulance and umpires for all tournament games; complete turn-key tournament polo with some of the top professionals in the world; playing polo on some of Wellington's most prestigious and well-manicured fields that hosted the best players in the world during the inaugural 26-goal World Polo League; club-sponsored social events every weekend for all players; and excellent trophies for all teams every weekend.
The spring season is being live-streamed on Wellington-based ChukkerTV.
Grand Champions fall, winter and spring tournaments attract a large international field of players from all corners of the world including India, Mexico, New Zealand, Chile, Costa Rica, Argentina, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, Switzerland, France, Germany, Uruguay, Azerbaijan, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, Venezuela and England.
Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique polo facility in Wellington with 120 stalls in five self-contained barns, exercise track, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and three polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation including one field for stick-and-ball with plans to build more polo fields in the future.
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Nic Roldan
Photos by Candace Ferreira
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Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels and ages. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program, created by Grand Champions President Melissa Ganzi when the club first opened in 2007.
The Polo School, a stand-alone USPA-sanctioned polo club, is dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. Its mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo at every economic and ability level. Scholarships are available. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through May. Headed by Director of Operations Juan Bollini, The Polo School has nurtured several men and women polo players now playing in the pro and amateur ranks since its inception.
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MAY
24-26: The Memorial
Friday, 5/24 Santa Rita Abierto
3 p.m. Palm Beach Equine vs Dutta Corp at GCPC Field 3
5 p.m. Audi vs Sebucan at GCPC Field 1
Sunday, 5/26
10 a.m. Just For The Love Of It subsidiary final at GCPC Field 1
11:30 a.m. Final of the Santa Rita Abierto at GCPC Field 2
Monday 5/27
The
Memorial
Final
10 a.m. Grand Champions U.S. vs Grand Champions
Rest of The World
Games played at Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm.
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THE POLO SCHOOL
The Polo School at Grand Champions and Director of Operations Juan Bollini are dedicated to teaching polo to all ages, particularly grass roots youth. The school's mission is to provide individuals opportunities in polo. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and September through November. For lessons contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.
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Chukker TV is live streaming the entire spring polo schedule.
ChukkerTV, featuring cutting-edge technology, was the first to introduce state-of-the-art live streaming technology and instant replay in January, 2014 at Grand Champions Polo Club. For advertising opportunities on ChukkerTV please contact Mike Ferreira at [email protected].
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GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.
INFORMATION: For spectators, there are great field side views for tournament action and also the Grand Champions Polo Club Boutique. The club is home base for pro teams Audi and Flexjet. Everyone is welcome to watch every level of polo in a relaxed atmosphere with food and refreshments during the featured games of the winter, spring and fall tournament seasons and other special events. Admission is free except for some special events.
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