WELLINGTON, Fla., October 23, 2023—Amaro, making its fall season debut, won its first tournament Sunday at Santa Rita Polo Farm‘s Aspen Field.
Amaro (Scott Sorbaro, 0, Louis Devaleix, 1, Nic Roldan, 8, Kris Kampsen, 6) dominated round robin action to win the Pedro Morrison Memorial.
Amaro defeated Aspen Valley (Govinda Quish, 9, Sugar Erskine, 6, Pablo Dorignac, 5, Martin Jauregui, 6), 7-4, and Casablanca (Santos Bollini, 2, Grant Ganzi, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Jason Crowder, 5) , 8-5, in the final. Casablanca topped Aspen Valley 10-6 in its round robin qualifier.
Arvo Katajisto, longtime friend of Pedro Morrison, was the awards presenter for the tournament and was emotional talking about Morrison. Several of Morrison‘s friends attended the game in his memory.
„I‘m sorry Pedro‘s not here laughing with us,“ he said. „Thank you all very, very much.“
Roldan, the second highest ranked American and most decorated player at Grand Champions Polo Club, was named Most Valuable Player for the third consecutive week. Roldan finished with six goals and played well defensively.
„Pedro was a dear friend to all of us and his legacy will always be remembered within the polo world,“ Roldan said.
Pitkin, played by Grant Ganzi and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was Best Playing Pony.
In the preliminary round robin games on Friday, Amaro edged Aspen Valley, 3-2, and Casablanca, 4-2; and Aspen Valley and Casablanca tied 5-5. The scores carried over into Sunday‘s final.
In the opening three chukkers, Amaro led from start to finish against Aspen Valley. Amaro extended its lead to 4-2 with Sorbaro‘s opening goal in the first chukker. Amaro pulled away for a 6-3 lead in the second chukker behind back-to-back Roldan goals, including a penalty-one. Amaro outshot Aspen Valley, 14-11.
In the final three chukkers, Amaro once again extended its lead, pulling away for a 5-3 advantage after the opening chukker. Amaro led by as many as four, 8-4, in the third chukker after Kampsen converted a 60-yard penalty.
„It was great to share the field with my teammates,“ said Roldan, who played with Sorbaro and Devaleix for the first time. „Scott and Louis both played really well. It was a fun weekend.“
Casablanca outshot Amaro, 14-13. Amaro led in knock-ins, 9-5, and throw-ins, 5-2. Each team had five fouls.
In addition to Roldan‘s six goals, Ganzi scored three for Casablanca including a penalty conversion, Santos Bollini had three for Casablanca and Kampsen had two including a 60-yard penalty conversion for Amaro.
On Saturday, in the Just For The Fun Of It round robin, Victory I (Becky Schmeits, Louis Devaleix, Juan Bollini, Patricio Paz/Tomacho Pieres), Victory II (Kevin Schmeits, Tomacho Pieres, Lion Mandelbaum, Sebastian Mandelbaum) and World Polo League White (Johnny Castillo, Patricio Paz, Martin Jauregui, David Farache) competed in a fun but competitive six-chukker round robin.
Kevin Schmeits, who also competes at Grand Champions sister club Aspen Valley Polo Club, returned to action after sitting out for nearly a year recouperating from knee surgery.
Brothers Sebastian and Lion Mandelbaum returned to Grand Champions. The pair have been competing in polo at GCPC since their lead line days.
In the opening round, Victory I and Victory II tied, 1-1. In the second round, Victory II and World Polo League White tied, 2-2. In the third and final round WPL White and Victory I tied, 2-2.
Castillo led in scoring with three goals. Becky Schmeits and Sebastian Mandelbaum each had two goals.
In last year‘s tournament, Barbarossa Leather won the Pedro Morrison Memorial at Santa Rita. Trailing by two goals going into the final chukker, Barbarossa Leather (Leo Mandelbaum, 2, Jason Crowder, 5, Juan Bollini, 3, Tommy Biddle, 5) rallied for a thrilling 4-3 victory over Casablanca (Nick Manifold, 3, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8, Juan Sanchez Elia, 5). Mandelbaum was MVP.
The tournament is named in honor of Pedro Morrison. Born in Spain and University of Miami alum, Morrison died Dec. 11, 2003 in Wellington at age 49. He was an avid polo player, patron of The Sympatico Polo team and helped develop Wellington into a thriving community.
The nation‘s largest and most innovative polo club celebrating its 17th anniversary, is hosting both medium and high goal tournaments this season.
Among the season highlights are the Nov. 7-15 USPA North American Cup and Nov. 11-21 USPA National 20-Goal Championship and Nov. 18 doubleheader featuring the Legends of Polo Carlos Gracida Memorial and International Cup featuring GCPC USA putting its undefeated 11-game win streak on the line against Spain.
The fall medium goal schedule features six tournaments. The remaining medium goal tournaments are the Oct. 24-29 Banyan Cup, Nov. 1-5 Fall Plates and inaugural Nov. 8-12 Casablanca Fall Cup.
Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm is the largest and most unique private 102-acre polo facility in Wellington with 212 stalls in nine self-contained barns, two exercise tracks, five climate-controlled tack rooms, vet room, staff quarters, guest house and four polo fields with state-of-the-art underground irrigation, short work arena and stick-and-ball fields.
Grand Champions Polo Club and Santa Rita Polo Farm cater to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. 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 at the turnkey facility.
Grand Champions and Santa Rita Polo Farm hosts polo tournaments ranging from six to 26-goal in addition to special events at its well-manicured 11 fields during the fall season. Admission is free and open to the public.
Wellington-based ChukkerTV (CTV Sports) is live streaming the entire fall season worldwide. Grand Champions is the only USPA club that is live streaming all its games.
The Polo School, a 501c3 organization and stand-alone USPA 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. The Polo School operates in Wellington January through June and October through November. For more information on the Fall Leagues or Polo School contact Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.
Grand Champions Polo Club is located at 13444 Southfields Road in Wellington. For more information about the upcoming season visit www.gcpolo.com.
By Sharon Robb
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.
