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$50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament Begins Sunday At Grand Champions Polo Club; ChukkerTV Will Live Stream |
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One of the nation’s most important and competitive tournaments that offers major prize money features some of the sport’s top players including several up-and-coming young athletes. ChukkerTV.com will live stream the tournament to a worldwide audience. Defending champion is Palm Beach Equine. In last year’s final, the team of Dr. Scott Swerdlin, Alejandro Gonzalez, Tommy Collingwood and Luis Escobar came from behind to defeat Casablanca, 11-9. The Casablanca team featured Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Carlitos Gracida and Nic Roldan.
Escobar, still recovering at home from a serious polo accident at Isla Carroll east, will not compete this year. This year’s Palm Beach Equine team lineup is Swerdlin, 0, Peke Gonzalez, 1, Facundo Obregon, 6, and Agustin Obregon, 5. Escobar’s son Nico, who has been playing polo since he was 3, will compete for 5 Star Builders along with Alan Martinez, 5, Tommy Biddle, 6, and Cody Offen, 1. Team USPA, comprised of top young American players, will use the tournament to fine tune for the March 24-29 FIP 10th World Polo Championships in Santiago, Chile. The U.S. team is in the same bracket group as Argentina and Brazil. Felipe Viana and Will Tankard, also Team USPA players, will compete for SD Farms. The USPA players and coaches are currently training at Grand Champions Polo Club.
On Wednesday, the winner of Game 1 plays the winner of Game 4 at 3:30 p.m. On Thursday, the winner of Game 2 plays the winner of Game 3 at 3:30 p.m. The winners of each semifinal advance in the championship final on Saturday at 3 p.m. The single-elimination tournament features eight teams. The team lineups are: Aspen Valley Polo Club: Grant Ganzi, 1, Juancito Bollini, 2, Mark Tomlinson, 6, Wes Finlayson, 3. 5 Star Builders: Nico Escobar, 0, Alan Martinez, 5, Tommy Biddle, 6, Cody Offen, 1. Newport: Gene Goldstein, 1, Agustin Arellano, 1, Michel Dorignac, 6, Joaquin Panelo, 4. Palm Beach Equine: Dr. Scott Swerdlin, 0, Peke Gonzalez, 1, Facundo Obregon, 6, Agustin Obregon, 5. Pony Express: Justin Daniels, 0, Bob Daniels, 0, Tomas Goti, 6, Julian de Luzarreta. SD Farms: Sayyu Dantata, 2, Torito Ruiz, 3, Felipe Viana, 4, Will Tankard, 3. Tackeria/Travieso: Tony Calle, 2, Alejandro Gonzalez, 3, Matt Coppola, 4, Bauti Bello, 3. Team USPA: Cody Ellis, 2, Patrick Uretz, 3, Jesse Bray, 5, Remi Muller, 2. Instant replay and team challenges will be utilized during the week-long tournament. ChukkerTV.com, leaders in polo broadcasting, introduced the state-of-the-art technology in January, 2014 at Grand Champions where it got rave reviews from patrons and players about the cutting-edge technology to help improve the sport and officiating. Grand Champions was the first polo club in the world to offer the technology where teams are allowed to challenge an umpire’s call during a game. It is the first time in the sport’s history, instant replay and team challenges are being used. No club in the world has used the technology. Only replays are used in Argentina and other tournaments around the world. Chukker TV.com is also offering live streaming IPC high polo games through April 19th and re-broadcasts, Video On Demand and player interviews. 2015 POLO ON DEMAND Grand Champions Polo Club, featuring five world-class fields, has a full schedule of tournaments from January to May. Let our polo experts create a turn-key experience including top pros to bring out the best in you and your team. Lessons are available. 12-GOAL TOURNAMENTS FEBRUARY 29-March 7: $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament; MARCH: The Top Pony 12-Goal Series; APRIL: Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Challenge Cup 8-GOAL TOURNAMENTS: MARCH: The Limited Edition 8-Goal Series and USPA Regional President’s Cup; APRIL: USPA Association Cup 6-GOAL TOURNAMENTS MARCH: Madelon Bourdieu Memorial; APRIL: Las Acacias 16-GOAL TOURNAMENTS: MARCH: Santa Rita Abierto; APRIL: John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414. INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi, FlexJet and Casablanca. Everyone is welcome to watch high, medium and low goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere that includes a free Argentine asado during the winter, spring and fall tournament season and other special events including the March 15th Great Futures Boys & Girls Club Polo Day and March 16th Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament, April 1-4 Women’s Championship Tournament (WCT) and International Cup in November. Admission is free except for special events. |
