WELLINGTON, FL-May 21, 2013—Six 12-goal rated teams will compete in the four-day Grand Champions Polo Club spring season-ender, The Memorial by Piaget, that begins on Wednesday.
Longfield will open single-elimination play against Palm House on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Longfield is led by 8-goaler Nic Roldan, who returns to the playing field after being sidelined for two weeks with a rib injury. Roldan will be joined by Carlitos Gracida, Marc Ganzi and Hannah Buchan.
Palm House is led by big-hitting 6-goaler Tommy Biddle along with Joey Casey, Carlos Diaz and Glenn Straub.
Other returning teams are ELG and Audi Polo Team who will play the tournament’s second game on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Audi became the first team to win two tournament titles this past Sunday on the Grand Champions spring tournament circuit.
Two new teams will make their season debut, YP.Com and Inner-Continental. Both received a bye into Friday’s semifinal games at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
The championship final is Sunday.
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YP.Com is led by Hall of Fame and former 10-goaler Mike Azzaro, who will compete in his second consecutive tournament after returning from San Antonio, Tex.
Azzaro, 47, who filled in for an injured Roldan, was a member of Audi’s winning team. Azzaro is coming off back-to-back U.S. Open titles with Zacara and will move up from 7 to 8-goals on June 1st.
Joining Azzaro are Melissa Ganzi, big-hitting Juan Bollini and David Krantz.
Inner-Continental will be led by 5-goalers Brandon Phillips and Carlucho Arellano, who have played well during the entire spring season.
The tournament team lineups are:
Audi Polo Team, 12, Grant Ganzi, Wes Finlayson, Lucas Lalor, JJ Celis.
ELG, 12, Avery Chapman, Martin Estrada, Juancito Bollini, Kris Kampsen.
Palm House, 12, Glenn Straub, Joey Casey, Tommy Biddle, Carlos Diaz.
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Longfield, 12, Hannah Buchan, Marc Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Carlitos Gracida.
YP.Com, 12, Melissa Ganzi, David Krantz, Juan Bollini, Mike Azzaro.
Inner-Continental, 12, Gene Goldstein, Alejandro Poma, Brandon Phillips, Carlucho Arellano.
The spring tournament circuit has featured competitive teams rated from 10 to 14 goals.
The 2013 season has been Grand Champions most competitive with four different champions emerging: ELG/Psycho Bunny (Palm City Open), Power Horse (Polo Gear Invitational), Audi (USPA Spring Challenge and Eastern Challenge) and Pony Express (USPA Sun Cup).
GRAND CHAMPIONS SPRING SCHEDULE
May 22-27: The Memorial by Piaget
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: On the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington.
