page 7• the morning line • tuesday, april 17, 2012 polo · (1pm national president’s cup...

• The Morning Line • Tuesday, April 17, 2012Page 7

Tuesday, April 17, 2012Editor & Publisher: Frederic Roy • phone: 561 315 3111 • [email protected] • © 2012 Trophy Inc. all rights reserved

www.themorningline.com Where’s Polo Today?POLOTHEMORNINGLINE

2012 Po l o Se a S o n

Valiente i

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PreS

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.S. o

Pen C

ham

P. the SemifinalS are Set

VS.

VS.

Defending Champion Lechuza defeated Orchard Hill 13-11 on Sunday in one of the best matches of the season to reach the semifinals: Facundo Obregon, Victor Vargas,

Juan Martin Nero and Sapo Caset. (ph Frederic Roy)

2012 CV Whitney Champ Valiente I defeated Valiente II 14-11 Sunday to play Lechuza in the first semifinal tomorrow Wednesday: Miguel Astrada, Polito Pieres, Nacho Astrada

and Bob Jornayvaz. (ph Frederic Roy)

Zacara had a splendid performance on Sunday defeating Coca-Cola 13-7: Mike Azzaro, Facundo Pieres, Lyndon Lea

and Magoo LaPrida. (ph Frederic Roy)

With quick attack and excellent defense, ERG defeated last year’s runner-up Audi 12-10 on Sunday in the first quarterfinal: from left, Carlos Gracida, Mar-cus Alberdi, Scott Wood, Sebastian Merlos, Paco de Narvaez and son Paquito,

Agustin Merlos and son Rufino, and Martin Munoz. (ph Frederic Roy)

• The Morning Line • Tuesday, April 17, 2012

ML Polo Update -Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - AM

Polo at a Glance Nespresso U.S. Open Polo Championship: Wednesday April 18, Semifinals 2pm US Open Semifinal 1 Lechuza vs. Valiente I 4pm US Open Semifinal 2 ERG vs. Zacara The 4 pm game will be played on Piaget field, the 7th Chukker bar open to the public.Saturday April 21(1pm National President’s Cup final: Lazy P. vs. PiagetSunday April 224pm US OPEN Final------------------------Sunday, Lazy P defeated Goose Creek 8 to 7.5 to become the IPC Qualifier of the USPA President’s Cup 8 goal and play the National President’s Cup Final on Sat. Apr. 21 at 1 pm against Piaget, the winner of the Palm City Qualifier.------------------------The 77th FIP Ambassadors Cup final will be played tomorrow at Port Mayaca. In yesterday’s matches: Hurlingham defeated Pony Express 9-7 Grand Champions defeated Port Mayaca 5-4 Mashomack defeated Santa Clara/Herradura 6-1Today, Tuesday, April 17• 10:30 Consolation Game PMPC vs Mashomack Port Mayaca: Diego Arellano/Tristan Phillmore, Manuel Ugarte, Carlucho Arellano/Steve Orthwein Jr., Steve Orthwein Sr. Mashomack: Bruce Colley, Mario Mendoza, JJ Celis, Peter Von Gontard.• 11:30 Consolation Game Pony Express vs Santa Clara/Herradura Pony Express: Bob Daniels, Tayo Masias, Tomas Goti, Joe Meyer. Santa Clara/Herradura: Franciso Escobar, Sergio Cardoso, Julio Gracida, Charlie Armstrong. • 12:30 Finals Hurlingham vs. Grand Champions Hurlingham: Timmy Sharma, Roderick Vere Nicoll, Carlitos Gracida, Carlos Gracida. Grand Champions: Melissa Ganzi/Nick Barry, Vico Coutinho, Will Johnston, Lucas Lalor.Lunch will be served.

Third International Gay Polo Tournament at Grand Champions Sat, April 14, 2012Match for 3rd place Cedar Crest Stables/Star Meadow def. 5-3 Phil Tremo Gina Padilla Dan HayniaJoey Casey Final - Saturday April 14, 2012 at 3:00 pm Gamma Mu def. 6-5Chip McKinney Jack Hoffman Christine Vermes Juan Bollini ------------------------

SChedUle & reSUltS tang Polo ClUb hoStS firSt arena toUrnament in China

On Sunday 15th April the Tang Polo Club, Beijing hosted what possibly was the first arena polo

tournament in China. The indoor arena (see below) occupies 5,600 square meters and is of true inter-national standard. The tournament is slated to become an annual event and, as polo is seasonal in Beijing, it will now signify each year the start of the much awaited polo season. The event has received strong sup-port and assistance from the Chinese Equestrian Association (CEA.) Among the guests who attended were leaders of the CEA, members of the club, key club sponsors, well-known Chinese entrepreneurs and celebrities.

The day was a full day of activi-ties for the family, with not only polo, but also enjoyable games for children, including introduction “Stick and Ball” games, fun with the horses and trying their hand with remote controlled aircraft. The ladies are also not forgotten, with a specially laid on calligraphy class. After the match the club hosted the “Polo in China” Forum chaired by Mr. Li Yanyang, the chief edi-tor of Horsemanship magazine, the famous sport reporter from CCVT Mr. Cai Meng and Mr. Liu Shilai, China’s premier polo player and the Chairman of Tang Polo Club, who will also share his polo experience from his travels during the winter to Argentina, Dubai and Thailand.

Above, the regulation size polo arena at Tang Polo Club in Beijing. Below, Mr. Liu Shilai, China’s premier polo player

and the Chairman of Tang Polo Club, who has traveled exten-sively over the years and this Winter to Argentina, Dubai and

Thailand. (ph courtesy Tang Polo Club)

Gordon W. Ross Team-Re/Max Tom Landry Mark Bennett Gordon RossJason Crowder

Polo Gear/Palm Beach RoxTalbot Logan Dwight Tran Jean-Marc HerrouinNic Roldan


Please turn to page 4

www.tackeria.com1-800-882-POLO

neSPreSSo US oPen ChamPionShiPInternational Polo Club Palm Beach

11 teams - 26 goal - March 29-April 22, 2012

ExcEllEnt turn-out

Facilityin Virginia

East oF i-95

914-525-7344 www.amgpolo.com

call pablo alberdi

QuarterfinalSun 15Def. Audi 12-10

QuarterfinalSun 15Def. Coca-Cola 13-7

Victor Vargas 1Sapo Caset 10

Juan Martin Nero 10Facundo Obregon 5

26 Steve van Andel A

Lucas Criado 9Pablo Macdonough 10Mariano Gonzalez 7

26Robert Jornayvaz A

Alejo Taranco 6Pelon Stirling 10

Adolfo Cambiaso 10**Santiago Chavanne 9 *25

Bob Jornayvaz APolito Pieres 8

Miguel Astrada 9Nacho Astrada 9

26

Quarterfinals

First PlaceBracket I

leChUza

Marc Ganzi 1Nico Pieres 8

Gonzalito Pieres 10Jeff Hall 7

26Scott Wood A

Agustin Merlos 9Sebastian Merlos 9Paco de Narvaez 8

26Gillian Johnston 1

Hilario Ulloa 9Julio Arellano 9Luis Escobar 7

26Facundo Pieres 10

Lyndon Lea 1Magoo Laprida 8

Mike Azzaro 726

(bottom draw)

3rd PlaceBracket II/III

erg

Fourth PlaceBracket II/III

orChard hill

3rd PlaceBracket I

Valiente ii

Second PlaceBracket II/III

Valiente i

Second PlaceBracket I

aUdi

Fourth PlaceBracket I

CoCa-Cola

First PlaceBracket II/III

zaCara

erg

zaCara

leChUza

Valiente iQuarterfinalSun 15Def. Valiente I 14-11

QuarterfinalSun 15Def. Orchard Hill 13-11

Final Sunday 224 pm

SemifinalWed 18at 2 pm

SemifinalWed 18at 4 pm

Big polo day Sunday at IPC with 4 quarterfinals in the Nespresso U.S. Open Polo Championship. In the first game at 10 am on field #2, ERG imposed a very high tempo on Audi to lead 7-6 at halftime

eventually making a 2-goal break on Audi in the fourth on an open goal by Agustin Merlos and a beautiful cut shot by Sebastian Merlos for ERG to lead 9-6, Gonzalito Pieres con-verting an open goal for 9-7 at the start of the fifth. Audi came back stronger in the fifth with better distribution of the ball by Gonzalito Pieres though overall the Audi attack was not as strong and dominant as it usually is. An open goal conversion made 9-8, and late in the chukker Marc Ganzi had a fabulous run on the north end, tapping the ball at angle at speed to bring back the score to a tie at 9-all. Still, ERG was able to get the goal back with an open goal converted by Agustin Merlos. A quick open goal converted by Sebastian Merlos made it 11-9 early sixth, Nico Pieres picking up the pass at midfield from brother Gonzalito to run the field for 11-10, now with 27 seconds on the clock, ERG with the penalty #5 at mid-field, Sebastian Merlos scoring for ERG’s win 12-10. Scott Wood, who has been suffering from an injury to his right eye, was replaced by Marcos Alberdi. The second game was at noon on field #5, Lechuza vs.

SUnday’S QUarterfinalS

Left, Sebastian Merlos. Below, Gonzalito Pieres. (ph David Lominska/polographics.com)


neSPreSSo U.S. oPen

SUbSCribe to themorning line

daily CoVerage2012-2013

Call 561 315 3111themorningline.Com

Orchard Hill. Right of the bat, Orchard Hill was playing at 150 miles an hour gathering a lot of support from the large crowd. This was a tremendous games, arguably the best game of the season for the raw speed, the quality of the ponies and the excellent execution by the players. Lucas Criado was in ex-ceptional form scoring three exceptional goals in the second third chukker, and it took a lot of digging from Juan Martin Nero to keep Lechuza close enough at the score 8-7 to end the third, Lucas Criado posting one more goal before the bell. With Orchard Hill ahead by one to start the second half, it was Lechuza to make the game this time, Sapo Caset scoring two goals for the new one goal lead 9-8, the teams trading goals in the fifth, Lechuza ahead by one 11-10 to start the sixth. The one-goal/lead-change pattern of this spectacular game was suddenly broken when Sapo Caset found the inside of the left post of the goal mouth in the first play of the sixth chukker to give Lechuza the first 2-goal lead of the match 12-10, a goal difference that would prove to be the fall for Orchard Hill. In that sixth chukker, Orchard Hill had three chances from the 60 yard penalty line, Mariano Gonzalez shooting 2 of them wide (a safety and a penalty #4) eventually converting a penalty #4 with a big, high lofted shot for 12-11 with 2:13 on the clock. Please turn to page 5

Continued from page 3, Open Quarterfinals

Practice in Wellington, Fl

Chuck Pugsley ASantiago Galland 1Wesley Finlayson 1

Gringo Columbres 6 8 Maureen Brennan 0.5

Hayden Walsh 1Matthew Coppola 1.5

Brandon Phillips 5 8

Melisssa Ganzi AJuancito Bollini A

Juan Bollini 5Leo Mandelbaum 3

8

gooSe Creek

lazy P

Piaget

Single Elimination

national PreSident’S CUP

International Polo Club Palm Beach 6 teams - 8 goal - April 12-21, 2012

Def. Goose Creek 8-7.5IPC Qualifier

Def. Tonchala/ART 13-9

Def. Main Man 12-8Palm City Polo Club Qualifier

lazy P

National President’s Cup finalSaturday, April 21 at 1 pm

Def. Duck Hill 17-5

Above, Sapo Caset and Lucas Criado. Below left, Sapo Caset. (ph David Lominska/polographics.com)


Reversing the last charge by Orchard Hill, Lechuza had the ball back, a pass forward to Victor Vargas who, at speed and under pressure from Orchard Hill defend-ers, hit a marvelous big, high shot to give his team the win 13-11. The third game was at 2 pm on the Isla Carroll West field, Valiente II facing Valiente I. After playing only two chukkers in the Thursday game with Lechuza, Adolfo Cambiaso on his 37th birthday was back leading Valiente II. The game was open and fast, Valiente II up 4-1 in the second, Valiente I with a strong 4-1 third chukker to even out the score at 5-all. Starting the fourth, Adolfo was replaced by Pablo MacDonough and Valiente I continued on its momen-tum to outscore Valiente II 4-2 for the lead 9-7, 12-10 in the fifth and 14-11 to end the match, Valiente II never letting up its pressure until the end, Pelon Stirling and Alejo Tarenco on all the plays, but Valiente I proved once again its depth in horses and determination for the players, Polito Pieres and Miguel Astrada finishing the match on a high note. The fourth match was on Piaget field at 4 pm, featur-ing Coca-Cola and Zacara. Playing the #1 position, Facundo Pieres played one of the best games he ever played in Wellington with huge runs and beautiful goals in the first half to score six times for Zacara’s 7-3 lead on Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola came back from the break with renewed determination getting 2 goals back in the fourth, 8-6, but the a superlative Facundo Pieres backed by a well-turned out trio of Lyndon Lea, Magoo LaPrida and Mike Azzaro, turned up the heat once again to win 13-7. Facundo was La Martina MVP and his mare “Elite” was Best Playing Pony. Wednesday’s semifinals have Lechuza playing Va-liente I at the top of the draw at 2 pm, while ERG will play Zacara at 4 pm at the bottom. Frederic Roy

Continued from page 4, Open Quarterfinals

neSPreSSo U.S. oPen

Toll-Free 877-611-4636http://HearingAidsCentral.com

Above left, Adolfo Cambiaso, playing in the first half. Above right, father and son having a ball, Bobby and Rob-ert Jornavaz. Below left, Magoo LaPrida and Julio Arel-lano. Below, From left, Julio Arellano, Hilario Ulloa and Facundo Pieres. (ph David Lominska/polographics.com)


the third international gay Polo toUrney

A record crowd of nearly 3,000 fans watched the third annual International Gay Polo Tournament crown the 2012 champion Saturday at windswept Grand Champions Polo Club.

It was only fitting that Gay Polo League president and founder Chip McKenney lead Gamma Mu to a thrilling come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox in the championship final. With three seconds remaining, Gamma Mu team captain Juan Bollini took a short pass from Jack Hoffman and tapped in the winning goal. Bollini led his team with three goals, McKenney scored two goals, Christine Vermes finished with one goal and Hoffman came up with some outstanding defen-sive plays. “I think today was a winning day for me on two levels,” McKenney said. “We won the tournament and that’s always a pleasant ending but also the fact when you walk onto the polo grounds and you see this gorgeous place, the crowd, the tents and effort people put into the tailgates because they are all out here to share the day with us, it’s extraordinary.” Marc and Melissa Ganzi served as honorary chairs and their Grand Champions Polo Club was presenting sponsor. The Ganzis supplied the polo ponies, tack and grooms. “I am excited that new people have an interest in polo, this is wonderful,” Melissa Ganzi said. “Polo should be accessible to everybody.” It was the second year in a row, Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox finished tournament runner-up. Last year Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox also lost 6-5 to Team Phelps Media Group (PMG). But the runners-up didn’t walk away empty-handed. Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox top player Talbot Logan, who led all scorers with a career-high four goals, was named Most Valuable Player. Teammate Dwight Tran, the second young-est player in the GPL at age 28, was named Most Improved Player for the second consecutive year. “I don’t think I’ve ever scored four goals in a single game in my entire life,” Logan said. “It’s fantastic because Melissa Ganzi and the pros pick the MVP. That is such a great honor, I can’t express it.” In the consolation game, Cedar Crest Stables/Star Meadow, led by Gina Padilla and Phil Tremo of West Palm Beach, defeated Gordon W. Ross Team-Re/Max, 5-3. Padilla, a for-mer polo groom, and Tremo each scored two goals and Dan

Haynia added another. “Both teams played very well,” said Cedar Crest Stables/Star Meadow team captain Joey Casey. “The skill level has got-ten a lot better and the players have improved a lot. The tournament is good for the sport. If it helps the sport, it helps everybody.”

The winner was Gamma Mu: Chip McKenney, Juan Bollini, Christine Vermes and Jack Hoffman. Below, Jean-Marc Herrouin of Polo Gear Palm Beach Rox. Below left, Jack Hoff-

mand, Tom Landry and Jean-Marc Herrouin between games. (ph Alan Fabricant)


Both teams in the championship final were evenly matched from the opening chukker. Gamma Mu scored early in the opening chukker when Christine Vermes took a long pass from Bollini and scored. Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox tied it at 1-1 when Logan scored the first of his four goals. Wellington pro Nic Roldan made it look effortless when he scored on a 60-yard shot to put Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox ahead 2-1. Midway through the second chukker, McKenney scored on a Bollini pass to tie the game at 2-2 at halftime. After the on-field ceremonial champagne pouring for fans and divot-stomping, Logan scored back-to-back goals in the third chukker to give Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox a 4-2 advantage.Gamma Mu came roaring back in the fourth and final chuk-ker with Bollini scoring a quick goal to open the chukker and McKenney converting a penalty shot to tie the game at 4-4. Gamma Mu went ahead 5-4 on another Bollini goal. Logan tied the game at 5-5 with a pass from Roldan. With the seconds ticking down, Hoffman took posses-sion of the ball in a crowd in front of the goal that included McKenney and Bollini, who ended up tapping the ball in for the winning goal. “I think the teams that made it to the finals deserved to be in the finals,” McKenney said. “They played really well today. Everybody came determined to win and that really made it fun. I love the idea that we come to this and even though it’s a wonderful, joyous fun tournament it’s also for the players a very serious opportunity to win. “And the Ganzis! You are never going to get better ponies anywhere. They look beautiful, they ride beautifully, the tack is gorgeous, the grooms are impeccable. The pros are great. How do you get any better than this? Without ques-tion we are coming back. We are starting to plan next year’s tournament tomorrow.” Carrie Wirth

Continued from page 6, Gay Polo Tournament

Dwight Tran can still remember his de-but three years ago at the International Gay Polo Tournament. “When I first

came out here, I fell off my horse,” Tran said

with a smile, shaking his head. “It was the first year of the tournament and it was on the qualifying day. My horse reared up and I fell off. The horse rolled over my leg but luckily I didn’t break anything.” Since then Tran has made remarkable progress and for the second consecutive year was voted the Most Improved Player Award for the third annual International Gay Polo Tournament Saturday at Grand Champions Polo Club. Tran competed for Polo Gear/Palm Beach Rox which lost a thriller, 6-5, to Gamma Mu in front of nearly 3,000 fans. At 28, Tran is the second youngest player in the Gay Polo League. “I always come back for more, I didn’t get discouraged that first time,” Tran said. “It made me work harder.” Tournament host and sponsor Melissa Ganzi has been supportive of Tran since the start and is impressed by his improvement. “It’s been amazing watching him play and get better every year,” Ganzi said. Against Gamma Mu, Tran had several key

plays including feeding leading scorer and MVP Talbot Logan the ball for two goals and defending Argentine pro Juan Bollini with a hard bump to ride him off the ball. “I am getting more confident,” Tran said. “I have been playing every week. I am play-ing with a great team at Yale.” Tran is currently completing the first year of his MBA at the Yale School of Management. One of the reasons he chose Yale was to be able to play on the Yale polo team. “The practices are at night, 8-11 in the winter in a covered barn,” Tran said. “We groom and tack our own horses. We are very self-sufficient.” With every game, Tran picks up valuable experience particularly playing with other players like Logan and Wellington pro Nic Roldan. He started playing polo on the west coast at the Menlo Polo Club in 2009 when he took a hiatus from his marketing career at Google. “I have played this tournament every year and love it,” Tran said. “I will be back. I thought today’s game we were fairly matched. We had a great day on Friday and today they just had a better day. It was great. It’s always great to be out here. It’s great polo.”

dwight tran of polo gear/palm beach rox named most improved player at

third annual international gay polo tournament

Left, Gordon Ross. Below left, Christine Vermes of Gamma Mu. Below, Dan Haynia of Cedar Crest:Star Meadow. (ph Alan Fabricant)


eQUUleUS WinS 16 goal Palm beaCh Polo oPen

Equuleus defeated Palm Beach Equine 13-11 on

Saturday April 14 to win the 2012 16 goal Palm

Beach Polo Open. Equu-leus had a 6-4 lead at the

half and 10-5 at the end of the fourth. Equuleus, left

to right, Hugo Tagliaferro, Mariano Obregon, Diana

DiMenna and daughter Claire, Mariano Gonzalez

and Joe DiMenna. Palm Beach Equine was Dr. Scott

Swerdlin, Colin McCosh, Gonzalo Usandizaga and

Tommy Biddle. Below, Best Playing Pony Baby

Face for Mariano Gon-zalez, also MVP, award

presented by Palm Beach Polo manager Juan Olivera.

(ph Alex Pacheco)

page 7• the morning line • tuesday, april 17, 2012 polo · (1pm national president’s cup...

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