Pedro Morrison Memorial

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Amaro Captures Pedro Morrison Memorial; Nic Roldan MVP

24. October 2023

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.

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…

North America, Polo News

Sorrento Polo Team Wins Pedro Morrison Memorial Final; Nic Roldan MVP

25. May 2021

By: Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by: ChukkerTV

WELLINGTON, FL, May 24, 2021— Sorrento Polo Team defeated Seminole Casino Coconut Creek by 12-11 to take the Pedro Morrison Memorial title, while Sebucan edged out Barbaroso Leather by 10-9 in the subsidiary.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Fran Spinacci, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) met Sorrento Polo Team (Federico Parker, Tito Gaudenzi, Marc Ganzi, and Nic Roldan). Seminole Casino Coconut Creek ceded three goals to Sorrento Polo Team on handicap.

Tito Gaudenzi jumping the boards during play.

Juancito Bollini put Seminole Casino Coconut Creek on the board in the first chukker, while Nic Roldan was able to score from Penalty 5 from the spot to ensure that Sorrento Polo Team ended the first period with their three-goal lead intact. In the second chukker, Bollini found the goalposts twice, bringing Seminole Casino Coconut Creek within one before Roldan answered with a goal. A foul from Seminole Casino Coconut Creek gave Marc Ganzi the chance to convert a Penalty 3 and the chukker ended with Seminole Casino Coconut Creek trailing 6-3. In the third period, Bollini and Alejandro Novillo Astrada helped Seminole Casino Coconut Creek close in on Sorrento again, but Roldan swept the ball through in answer. A final goal from Grant Ganzi ended the half with Seminole Casino Coconut Creek behind by just one goal, at 7-6.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada reaches for the ball with Nic Roldan and Juancito Bollini close behind.

Roldan got Sorrento Polo Tam on the board first in the fourth chukker, with an answer from Novillo Astrada. Roldan scored yet again to end the period 9-7. The pentultimate chukker saw both teams battling ferociously to score, with Bollini putting the first ball through. Tito Gaudenzi and Roldan scored to take the total on the board up to 11-8 for Sorrento Polo Team , but Novillo Astrada came back with an answer and Grant Ganzi converted a Penalty 2. The final chukker began with Seminole Casino Coconut Creek still nipping at Sorrento Polo Team‘s heels. Bollini scored the equalizer and at 11-11, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek had victory within their grasp. An unlucky foul gave Marc Ganzi the chance to convert a Penalty 2, which won the game for Sorrento Polo Team 12-11.

MVP Nic Roldan with Arvo Katajisto.

Nic Roldan was named MVP, while Cortina, played by Tito Gaudenzi and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm took the Best Playing Pony award.

In the second match of the day, Sebucan (Gene Goldstein, Pablo Pulido, Tomacho Pieres, and Sugar Erskine) took the field against Barbaroso Leather (Leo Mandelbaum, Justin Daniels, Pablo Spinacci, and Juan Bollini).

Cortina, played by Tito Gaudenzi and owned by Santa Rita Polo Farm, was awarded Best Playing Pony.

While Barbaroso Leather started with one goal on the board, they were unable to get past Sebucan’s defense to score from the field in the first chukker. Goals from Sugar Erskine and Gene Goldstein ended the period 2-1 for Sebucan. Play was back and forth during the second chukker and Barbaroso had no better luck getting on goal, with another great shot from Erskine put Sebucan in the lead by 3-1. Pablo Pulido put a goal through the posts, and it was finally Leo Mandelbaum who was able to get a goal from the field on the board for Barbaroso. A goal from Goldstein ended the half with Sebucan in the lead by 5-2.

Newport‘s Sugar Erskine hits a nearside buckshot while Leo Mandelbaum defends.

Both teams turned the power up a notch when they returned after the half. Leo Mandelbaum put the first ball through the posts, but Sebucan found themselves on an offensive streak, scoring four goals in a row. Goldstein led the charge, followed by Tomacho Pieres and Pablo Pulido. Pieres scored again, putting Sebucan in the lead by 9-3 before Justin Daniels was able to score and end the period with Barbaroso down by 9-4. Barbaroso started to gain momentum in the fifth chukker, outscoring Sebucan for the first time. Spinacci and Mandelbaum both scored for Barbaroso, while Pulido was responsible for Sebucan’s only goal in the chukker. Barbaroso played a spectacular final chukker, keeping Sebucan off the board while Daniels, Mandelbaum and Spinacci were all able to put the ball through. Unfortunately for Barbaroso, they found their rhythm too late and went down to Sebucan by 10-9.

By: Rebecca Baldridge Photos by: ChukkerTV WELLINGTON, FL, May 24, 2021— Sorrento Polo Team defeated Seminole Casino Coconut Creek by 12-11 to take the Pedro Morrison Memorial title, while Sebucan…

North America, Polo News

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Sorrento Polo Team Advance To Pedro Morrison Memorial Final

25. May 2021

By: Rebecca Baldridge
Photos by: ChukkerTV

WELLINGTON, FL, May 22, 2021— Seminole Casino defeated Barbarosa Leather by 11-8 in the first match of the Pedro Morrison Memorial, while Sorrento Polo Team took down Sebucan in the second match of the day by a score of 8-7.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Fran Spinacci, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, and Alejandro Novillo Astrada) met Barbarosa Leather (Leo Mandelbaum, Justin Daniels, Pablo Spinacci, and Juan Bollini) in the first match of the Pedro Morrison Memorial on Friday morning. Seminole Casino ceded one goal to Barbarosa Leather on handicap.

Justin Daniels knocked in the first goal of the day, but the combination of Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Juancito Bollini looked unstoppable in the second half of the period. Novillo Astrada took control of the ball and passed it to Juancito, who put it through the posts with a near side shot. Sixty seconds later he passed the ball to Juancito again, and Bollini fils took the ball through the posts in two shots. Seconds later Juancito gained control of the ball once more and left it behind for Novillo Astrada, who passed it back for Juancito to complete the hat trick for the chukker with 1:10 left on the clock. The period ended with Seminole Casino Coconut Creek leading 3-2. Barbarosa Leather struck back in the second chukker, working hard to keep Seminole Casino Coconut Creek off the goal. Leo Mandelbaum converted a Penalty 2, while Pablo Spinacci scored a pair of goals that had Bábaroso in the lead 5-3 at the end of the period. The tables turned in the third chukker, with Seminole Casino keeping Barbarosa Leather away from the posts while Novillo Astrada put the ball through. The half ended with Barbarosa Leather leading 5-4.

All eyes on the ball! Leo Mandelbaum is laser focused.

The fourth chukker demonstrated how evenly matched the teams were, with Seminole Casino Coconut Creek scoring first and Barbarosa Leather responding with an answer to maintain their one goal lead each time. Grant Ganzi scored the first equalizer early in the chukker, but Juan Bollini came back with a goal of his own less than a minute later. With 2:10 left on the clock, Juancito Bollini scored with a strong assist from young Fran Spinacci. Leo Mandelbaum found the posts with a spectacular angled shot, but with seven seconds left to play, Alejandro Novillo Astrada tapped the ball in to end the period with a 7-7 tie. Seminole Casino gained the upper hand in the fifth chukker, drawing ahead on a Penalty 3 conversion from Grant Ganzi and Novillo Astrada scoring to solidify the lead. Despite a well-placed shot on goal from Pablo Spinacci, Seminole Casino led 9-8 at the beginning of the final chukker. Barbarosa Leather lost the momentum they had enjoyed earlier, failing to get on the board, and goals from Fran Spinacci and Alejandro Novillo Astrada won the game for Seminole Casino Coconut Creek with a final score of 11-8.

Sugar Erskine getting a pep talk from wife Brigitte before the game.

In the second match of the day, Sebucan (Gene Goldstein, Pablo Pulido, Tomacho Pieres, and Sugar Erskine) took the field against Sorrento Polo Team (Federico Parker, Tito Gaudenzi, Marc Ganzi, and Nic Roldan). Secbucan ceded three goals to Sorrento on handicap.

Sebucan seized control of the field early in the first chukker and Gene Goldstein drew first blood with 5:43 on the clock. Nic Roldan fired a powerful shot downfield that was snatched off the doorstep by Sugar Erskine, but he blasted the ball through the posts in a similar shot on the next play at just under four minutes. Neither team was able to find the posts again and the period ended with Sorrento Polo Team leading by 4-1. Pablo Pulido and Marc Ganzi each put the ball through in the second chukker, which ended 5-2 in favor of Sorrento Polo Team. Goldstein put another goal on the board in the third chukker while a strong defense from Sebucan kept Sorrento from scoring. The half ended with Sorrento Polo Team in the lead by 5-3.

Sebucan‘s Tomacho Pieres ready to defend Sorrento Polo Team opponent Nic Roldan.

The fourth chukker played out much like the third, with Sorrento Polo Team still unable to make it past Sebucan to score. Tomacho Pieres put a goal on the board to narrow Sorrento Polo Team‘s lead to one goal at 5-4. The pentultimate chukker was Sorrento Polo Team‘s finest six-and-a-half minutes, as it was the only chukker in which they outscored Sebucan. It was Marc Ganzi they had to thank, as he converted a Penalty 2 and put the ball through from the field. Sugar Erskine held up the side for Sebucan, and the period ended with Sorrento Polo Team leading by 7-5.

Tito Gaudenzi rides off Sebucan‘s Pablo Pulido.

Erskine scored again in the sixth chukker and with two minutes on the clock Sebucan could see the win within their grasp. However, they failed to capitalize on the opportunity. With just five seconds remaining on the clock, a Penalty 6 safety saw Tomacho Pieres tie the score at the buzzer and send the game into overtime. In a sudden death seventh chukker, with 3:05 left on the clock, Nic Roldan capitalized on a broken play and took the ball to goal to win the day for Sorrento with a final score of 8-7.

The Final of the Pedro Morrison Memorial will take place on Sunday May 23 at 11:30 am. The subsidiary game, Just For The Fun Of It Cup will be at 10:00 am, where Sebucan will meet Barbarosa Leather. Both games will be streamed live on ChukkerTV.